- Author: Mary E. Reed
This was the second year that the UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center was able, with thanks to major funding from an endowment created by Leonard and Marseille Morris, to provide a scholarship to the Postharvest Technology Short Course. The goal of the scholarship is to "provide an individual from a developing country the opportunity to learn about managing the postharvest handling of horticultural crops with an intent to take that information back to their home country and utilize it to benefit others in their region."
After an intensive review of the more than fifty applications received, Hussein Yunus Alhassan from Ghana was selected. The following is his report:
The Postharvest Technology of...
- Author: Mary E. Reed
Four Postharvest Specialists from the UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center traveled to Sarajevo, October 24-28, to present a week-long Postharvest Technology training. Drs. Beth Mitcham, Marita Cantwell, Mary Lu Arpaia and Michael Reid presented 39 instructional sessions over a three-and-a-half day period. Zdenec Svec from the Czech Republic also presented a talk focusing on regional marketing and trade issues. The training session was followed by a 1-1/2 day field tour visiting a number of postharvest processing facilities. The training was the result of a herculean effort led by Filip Stoyanovic, Director of a USAID Regional Competitiveness Initiative, and supported by eleven USAID projects as well as funding from the governments...
- Author: Mary E. Reed
The respect and professional camaradarie amongst the 92 participants from 25 countries was a remarkable aspect of the 33rd Annual Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops Short Course. The course started off with a breath of fresh air and new energy as Dr. Beth Mitcham, the Director of the Postharvest Technology Center, introduced the Center's new logo and web site.
As the intense first week of lectures and labs progressed, it was interspersed with opportunities for networking, the highlight of which was the BBQ which featured scrumptious barbecued chickens which were butterflied, then marinated in Dr. Michael Reid's secret sauce (soy sauce, corn oil, grated ginger root, and toasted sesame seeds). The...
- Author: Pam Devine
The first Delivering More Flavorful Produce Workshop really hit home with attendees. The 2-day February workshop, led by Beth Mitcham of UC Davis and Jeff Brecht of the University of Florida was sponsored by a grant to UC Davis and the University of Florida from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative and covered a variety of in-depth topics on how to increase flavor quality of produce.
With a mix of breeders, growers, shippers, marketers, retailers and researchers, the course succeeded in stimulating participant interest and encouraging relevant discussions. The workshop also had a diversity of instructors. “[I liked] the range of sources of information, i.e. academic research to industry and distributors” , one...
- Author: Mary E. Reed
As you returned home from the market and unloaded your sack of produce, have you ever simply admired the satisfying bounty? Enjoyed the color, texture, and aroma as cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cherries, apricots, avocado, strawberries, and more passed through your hands? But now, what to do with each item … how best to keep it fresh and tasty until you’re ready to eat it?
The Postharvest Technology Center offers free copies of an 8.5” x 11” full color poster that shows which produce items should go in your refrigerator, which items should never go in the...
