Christine Ingram, the author of the vegetable reference section and the vegetable recipes, was a food editor for Woman magazine before becoming a freelance writer. Kate Whiteman, the author of the fruit reference section, was a highly regarded food and travel writer who edited books for such eminent chefs as the Roux Brothers and Raymond Blanc. Maggie Mayhew, the author of the fruit recipes, is a freelance food writer and home economist, who used to be the Deputy Food and Wine Editor of Living magazine.