With a climate and soil conditions proven ideal to the growth of fruits and vegetables, Sri Lanka has been known to produce a large variety of tropical delicacies in demand worldwide. Agriculture, being one of the most popular livelihoods in Sri Lanka, the local markets experience an influx of fresh fruit and vegetable products during the harvesting seasons. Yet, most of this product used to go to waste due to the lack of proper knowledge on post-harvest handling, packaging and right storage methods. However, with the introduction of new post-harvest handling techniques, cold storage, preservation and packaging methods to Sri Lankan farmers, an unprecedented increase in the amount and variety of vegetable and fruit exports has been recorded during the past decade. According to a study conducted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in the year 2013, Sri Lankan fresh fruit and vegetable exports have recorded an increase of 22% with the number of exported fruit and vegetable varieties indicating an increase from a mere 12 to 135.
