The 17^th annual Fresh-cut Products: Maintaining Quality & Safety workshop organized by Dr. Marita Cantwell, was very well attended, and there was an exceptional level of interaction between the participants and instructors. 

More than 20 top government, academia and industry instructors shared their expertise on a wide array of topics, and included: Diane Barrett, Dept. Food Science & Technology, UC Davis; Jeff Brandenburg, JSB Group, Greenfield, Mass.; Jeff Brecht, Dept. Horticultural Sciences, Univ. Florida; Christine Bruhn, Dept. Food Science and Technology, UC Davis; Marita Cantwell, Dept. Plant Sciences, UC Davis; Robin...

On October 12, 2012, the first Postharvest Training and Services Center (PTSC) officially opened its doors.  Located on the AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center's Regional Center for Africa Campus in Arusha, Tanzania, the Center will serve as a model for postharvest development in Sub-Saharan Africa. 


Physical losses of horticulture crops during postharvest range from 30 to 80 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and problems with food quality, safety and nutritional value are well documented.  Because past projects have identified appropriate postharvest technologies and recommended a variety of training, capacity building and small-scale infrastructure development, but had not integrated these recommendations...

Postharvest technology. Hmmm. What does that even mean to you?  Like most people, you’ve probably never thought about it, but it actually affects you every day. At least whenever you eat fruits and vegetables, and let’s face it, we all need to be eating more fruits and vegetables. 

Working at the Postharvest Technology Center, I often think about how to spread our mission of how to reduce postharvest losses and improve the quality, safety and marketability of fresh horticultural products. Part of doing this is educating consumers about making good choices so they have a better experience eating fruits and vegetables. And, if consumers have a better experience with fruits and vegetables, we eat more of them....

At their annual meeting, held July 22-25 in Providence, Rhode Island, the International Association for Food Protection recognized Dr. Christine Bruhn as a Fellow of the association.  She was recognized for her research and educational leadership in food protection and food safety communications, communicating science-based information to advance food protection with food professionals and the public.

Dr. Bruhn's career includes service to the IAFP and state affiliate organizations for more than 25 years.  She was the first recipient of IAFP's Developing Scientist Research Award in 1986, and the Elmer Marth Educator's Award in 2005.  Through her numerous publications and presentations, she is recognized worldwide...

When the Postharvest Technology Center first announced the availability of a scholarship to the 34th Postharvest Technology Short Course in February, a fair amount of interest was anticipated.  However, we certainly did not expect to receive more than 50 applications for the scholarship, which was valued at approximately $5500.

It was a painstaking process to winnow through all the applications and select just one individual that we thought would best be able to implement the stated goal of taking the information learned back to their home country and sharing and utilizing that information to make improvements in the local and regional postharvest handling systems.  We selected Mekbib Hilegebrile Seife,...