Postharvest Handling Systems for Tropical Fruits Lecture by Dr. Beth Mitcham

Recently, at the UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center, we hosted our 36th annual Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops Short Course from June 16th-27th, 2014. The full course is comprised of a two-week intensive study of the biology of horticultural crops as well as an introduction and study of the most advanced technologies in fruit, nut, vegetable, and ornamental handling in California.

Measuring Produce Quality Demonstration

Additionally, on Tuesday evening, Postharvest Technology Center hosted their annual networking barbecue at Putah Creek Lodge, which gave participants a chance to network and connect with other companies and specialists.

Postharvest Short Course Networking BBQ, waiting for the chicken to get cooked.

Feedback from participants was positive. Juan Fernando Jimenez Osorio, from Servicios Nutresa, described the course as “great, very valuable - especially for food safety”. Other participants, such as Enrique Ramos found the lecturers to be “very informative”. Participants spent the second week on a field tour covering selected packing houses, cooling and storage facilities, produce distribution centers, field harvest, packing, and transportation facilities in California. The tour bus travels from Sacramento to Bakersfield, Salinas, and San Francisco, allowing participants a unique experience to travel across the state to experience a wide range of California's postharvest operations and facilities firsthand. Genevieve Puccinelli, a fourth year Plant Sciences undergraduate student at UC Davis, offered high praise; “I love this course! Everything is applicable to my major - I love learning new material as well as reviewing many things I've learned in my other classes.”