PURPOSE: To contrive quality retention of perishable vegetables and fruits for a long period by bringing the perishable vegetables and fruits before or after harvesting into contact with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble nonionic surfactant composition consisting essentially of a specific nonionic surfactant composition.

CONSTITUTION: Perishable vegetables and fruits, such as asparagus, Brassica Rapa var. pervidis or cucumber, before or after harvesting are brought into contact with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble nonionic surfactant composition consisting essentially of a nonionic surfactant, preferably a water-soluble ester type nonionic surfactant, more preferably a nonionic surfactant which is glycerol monoester, sucrose ester and/or pentaerythritol ester of a fatty acid having (un)saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups which may have side chains as hydrophobic groups to prevent deterioration in color and taste of the perishable vegetables and fruits in distribution processes thereof.