The Second Interim Meeting of the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on the Post-Harvest Handling of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables team took place in Belgrade on June 21-22, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to define and agree on a work plan for developing post-harvest guidelines for the most economically significant types of fresh fruits, vegetables, and table grapes.
At the beginning of the meeting, the previous work done by the REAWG on Marketing Standards was reviewed, along with findings detailed in the Regional Assessment State of the Art of the Market Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Western Balkan countries and territories. The team discussed which methodology would be most suitable for preparing these guidelines. The objective was to ensure that each expert used the same methodology in their contributions. The discussion continued by identifying the most economically significant types of fresh fruits and vegetables for which post-harvest handling guides should be created. It was agreed that the fruits would include apples, peaches, nectarines, cherries, sour cherries, and berry fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries). The selected vegetables were peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and table grapes. Continuing the meeting, the team focused on the scope, composition, and visibility of illustrations in the post-harvest handling guidelines. It was agreed that each fruit or vegetable species would be limited to six author’s pages, amounting to approximately 1,800 characters. Additionally, the experts discussed authorship and co-authorship in preparing the guides, concluding that each expert would be responsible for two types (or groups) of fruits or vegetables. Responsibilities were clearly defined for each participant, with regional expert Mr. Pasalic overseeing coordination and ensuring uniformity in the guide’s preparation.
The experts agreed that the first draft of the guidelines should be completed by September 20. Based on the advice from regional experts, the final versions from the experts should be submitted to the SWG by October 30.. Mr. Pasalic, the team coordinator, will organize at least two online meetings to ensure the application of the agreed dynamics and methodology. Once the guides for all the specified types were prepared, the experts agreed to organize a series of dissemination events aimed at future users of the post-harvest handling guides, specifically to engage with the REAWG on AKIS resources.
