A review of the post harvest handling of fruits in South Africa over the past twenty five years

During the past 25 years there has been a tremendous amount of positive change in the post harvest handling of fruits in South Africa, primarily due to the adoption of many new technologies developed in response to changes in the industry. Important factors that impacted on the fruit industry during this time were a variable profitability due to large changes in the exchange rate of the Rand compared to other trading currencies and freeing up the market which has aided in the growth of the industry. This review provides an overview of the scientists and developments in the citrus, avocado, mango, litchi, pome fruit, table grape, stone fruit including plums, nectarine, peach and apricot industries. The fruit industry is vitally important to South Africa as a foreign currency earner and a large provider of stable employment.