*2.3. Data Collected*

Postharvest market loss was determined using vendor recall, consistent with other recent Pacific market loss studies [18,19]. This method excludes on-farm loss, does not include consumer waste nor does it account for potential re-use of market loss for non-human consumption (i.e., product used for animal feed). For the purposes of this study, postharvest loss is defined as a fresh horticultural product that was permanently removed from the chain due to being of an unsaleable quality and not provided to others with the intent of human consumption [20]. Vendors were asked to quantify the level of postharvest loss of the main horticultural products on-display at their individual vendor stalls. This allowed for postharvest loss and handling practice to be further segregated and analysed according to crop type.

Transport distance from the farm (village) to the market was determined using Google Earth Pro™ Distance Calculator based on the most probable road transport route. Where the location of the village could not be directly identified, transport distance was calculated by cross referencing the map location given by the vendor with the nearest village. Village locations were further validated in discussions with the enumerators. For inter-island supply chains, transport distance was based on the most likely direct ferry route. For the intra-island transport supply chains that involved a combination of boat and road transport, such as those from southern Guadalcanal, transport distance was calculated based on a boat transport route from the farm to the nearest village with continuous road access to Honiara, and the most probable road transport route thereafter.

Product was identified as either fruits, vegetables, or fruits and vegetables, based on generic (non-botanical) crop classification (i.e., tomato and similar crops were classified as vegetables). Semi-processed, processed and non-horticultural commodities were excluded from this study.
