*2.4. Statistical Analysis*

Data analysis was undertaken using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Analysis of market vendor survey loss was undertaken using ANOVA followed by the Tukey–Kramer multiple comparison test (with consideration for uneven vendor numbers between markets). The relationship between market loss and transport distance was determined using a linear regression analysis.

#### **3. Results**

#### *3.1. Postharvest Loss*

Mean percent postharvest market loss at the Honiara municipal market was 9.5% in November 2017 and 7.0% in March 2018 (Table 1). Mean percent postharvest loss for the road-side markets in Guadalcanal was 7.9% in November 2017 and 2.6% in March 2018. The level of postharvest loss was significantly higher in the Honiara municipal markets compared to the Honiara road-side market in the March 2018 survey.

**Table 1.** Mean percent postharvest market loss for fresh fruits and vegetables sold in the Honiara municipal and road-side markets.


Data relates to all fruits and vegetables combined. <sup>z</sup> n = 42. <sup>x</sup> n = 62. <sup>y</sup> n = 52. <sup>w</sup> Values followed by the same letter are not statistically different at *p* < 0.05 based on Tukey-Kramer test.

The frequency of postharvest loss differed between the municipal and road-side markets (Table 1). In the municipal market, most vendors experienced some level of postharvest loss, with only 19.2% of

vendor surveyed indicating no loss (Table 1). In contrast, nearly half of the road-side vendors (44.7%) reported no postharvest loss. When road-side market vendors incurred postharvest loss, the amount of loss tended be high (often 20 to 25% loss—data not shown).

Postharvest loss for fruits was 7% to 7.6% in the municipal market and 3% to 5.2% in road-side markets (Table 2). In comparison, postharvest loss for vegetables tended to be more variable, 1.8 to 12.7%, with significantly higher postharvest loss in municipal market in the November survey (Table 2). Low, but not significant, vegetable postharvest loss observed in road-side markets in the March survey was due to fewer vendors reporting atypically high postharvest loss (data not shown).

**Table 2.** Mean percent postharvest market loss for fresh fruits and vegetables <sup>z</sup> sold in the Honiara municipal and road-side markets.


<sup>z</sup> Postharvest loss data relates to fresh fruits and vegetables but excludes all other food categories including semi-processed and cooked product. <sup>y</sup> Crops were defined as vegetables based on a commercial rather than botanical classification (i.e., tomato identified as a vegetable crop). <sup>X</sup> Values followed by the same letter within columns and rows for individual market survey dates are not statistically different at *p* < 0.05 based on Tukey–Kramer test.

The portion of fruits to vegetables being sold differed during the two survey dates, possibly reflecting seasonal supply. In November, 44% of vendors were selling fruits and 56% selling vegetables, whereas in the March survey 30% of vendors were selling fruits and 70% vegetables (data not shown).

Mean postharvest loss for inter-island and intra-island supply chains supplying the Honiara municipal market (November 2017 and March 2018 combined results) is shown in Table 3. While inter-island chains appear to have slightly higher loss, this trend could not be statistically assessed due to the limited number of inter-chains included in the survey.

**Table 3.** Mean percent postharvest market loss for intra-island and inter-island located farms supplying the Honiara municipal market.

