Some 20 officials each from different Central American countries and the Dominican Republic are attending the workshop to address post-harvest issues which have so far prevented many nations in the region maximising their potential as fresh produce exporters to the EU and other industrialised markets.

Luigi Loria, the United Nation's FAO representative in Panamá, said that in the past 20 years the international fresh produce market has grown steadily and in many developing countries fruit and vegetable exports are a leading source of foreign exchange earnings.

However, an important reason for significant economic losses in the sector in Central America and the Caribbean are a decline in value of the product because of a lack of quality due to inadequate post-harvest handling, storage and distribution, said Loria.

The conference continues until August 15.

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