Synopsis Almost 400 species of edible fruits and nuts are identified and used either commonly or in a limited way in different countries of South-East Asia. The commonly cultivated species are about 20 in number. Fruits play an important role in the Asian society especially among the rural people.

There is immense scope for increasing various processed products for which technologies are available. The expansion of grading and packing stations, their further modernisation with mechanical grading equipment, use of CFB boxes and more number of pre-cooling and cold storage units will improve the marketing system and enhance marketability of the produce.