Postharvest Technology Short Course

34^th Annual Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops
Short Course
June 18 - 29, 2012
UC Davis

A Comprehensive Look at Postharvest Topics

This course is a two-week intensive study of the biology and current technologies used for handling fruits, nuts, vegetables and ornamentals in California. It is designed for research and extension workers, quality control personnel in the produce industry, and business, government or academic professionals interested in current advances in the postharvest technology of horticultural crops. It is particularly of interest to technical professionals responsible for quality assurance, research and extension activities related to fresh produce quality, safety and marketability. The lecture plus field trip option is limited to 55 participants, and the lecture-only option is limited to 25 participants. Enrollment will be handled on a first-paid, first-enrolled basis.

Topics

An overview of the postharvest biology of horticultural crops
Maturity and maturity indices, measuring quality
Safety factors
Harvesting systems, preparation for market, packinghouse facilities and equipment, packaging, containers, unitization, cull utilization
Cooling prior to shipment: methods, evaluation of efficiency
Storage: methods, facilities, equipment, management of environmental conditions including controlled atmospheres
Ethylene: treatments, exclusion and removal
Transport: systems, loading patterns, environmental control, use of modified atmospheres
Sanitation and other procedures related to decay and insect control; food safety assurance
Standardization and inspection, quality evaluation and control
Energy use in postharvest technology procedures
Harvesting and postharvest handling systems for various commodity groups
Marketing fresh produce: socioeconomic and environmental considerations
An overview of current postharvest research at the University of California

Short Course Format

The first week (Monday through Friday) is spent on intensive lectures and discussions as well as hands-on laboratory sessions on the UC Davis campus.

The optional second week (Monday through Friday) is a field tour covering selected packinghouses, cooling and storage facilities, produce distribution centers, field harvest, packing, and transportation facilities in California. The tour’s first stop is in Sacramento, then the bus travels as far south as Bakersfield, continues west towards the Salinas and Monterey area, and then the final stops are in the San Francisco/Oakland area.

Housing & Meals

Week 1: UC Davis Campus
Participants are responsible for their own housing (reservations and payment) during the first week of the course.

Local Hotels and Motels. The City of Davis has a fine selection of lodging options available as well. Please see our Welcome to Davis page, or the Yolo County Visitors' Guide. The five accommodations within easy walking distance of the campus are:

Davis Lodging Note: There is a large conference meeting on campus the first week of the 2012 Postharvest Technology Short Course. In order to ensure adequate lodging for our participants, we have reserved blocks of rooms at the Hallmark Inn, Best Western University Lodge, and the Comfort Suites. These blocks will only be held through May 14, and we encourage you to make your lodging reservations as quickly as possible. Be sure to mention that you are with the "Postharvest Technology Short Course."

Week 2: Tour
Hotel accomodations are pre-arranged by Postharvest Technology Center staff and included in enrollment fees.

Enrollment Details

The 1-Week enrollment fee of $1850 includes all classroom instruction, lab activities, course materials, morning and afternoon coffee breaks, Monday - Friday lunches, and one barbeque dinner. The enrollment to the 1-Week, lecture-only section is limited to 25 participants.

The 2-Week enrollment fee of $2850 includes all week 1 activities, plus field tour transportation and continental breakfasts Monday through Friday during the tour. Enrollment to the two-week section of this Short Course is limited to 55 participants. An additional lodging fee is also required for 2-Week participants.

We request enrollments no later than May 18, 2012. Reservations are made on a first-paid, first-served basis.

All-Inclusive Package
This year, for the first time, we are offering an all-inclusive package to include the course enrollment fee, airport transfers, hotel accommodations and a
food allowance. Prices range from $2672 to $5768 depending on course duration, choice of airport and single/double lodging preference. If you are
interested in this limited offer, please contact Penny Stockdale by May 4, 2012.

If your plans change: Refunds, less a $150 processing fee, will be granted if requested no later than May 18, 2012. At that time, you can also discuss sending a substitute. We reserve the right to discontinue, postpone, or combine classes, and to change instructors. Every effort will be made to notify enrollees of any changes or cancellations.

Faculty Coordinator & Technical Advisor

Beth Mitcham received a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Maryland. She joined the University of California at Davis in 1992, and currently serves as Director of the Postharvest Technology Center and as Associate Director of the Horticulture Collaborative Research Program, promoting horticulture in developing countries. Dr. Mitcham leads an applied and fundamental research program focused on improving the quality of fruit for US consumers and the viability of the California produce industry. She works closely with the fruit industry in California to develop strategies for maintaining postharvest quality of fruit, especially apples, sweet cherries, pears, berries, pomegranates and nut crops.

Campus & Travel Information

Campus Bike Rental. The UC Davis campus is one of the largest in the University of California system (5,300 acres). The UC Davis Bike Barn offers rental bicycles to help speed your navigation around campus. Located in downtown Davis, Ken's Bike & Ski also offers bike rentals on a weekly basis, with extended business hours, including Saturday and Sunday.
Internet Access. Postharvest Short Course participants will be provided access to a non-secured campus guest wireless account. The UC Davis campus has a number of wireless hot spots, including the ARC where we'll be meeting the first week, as well as the Segundo Dining Commons, the Memorial Union, and Shields Library.
Air Travel. The closest airport to Davis is Sacramento International (a 25 minute drive); we encourage the 2-Week participants to use this airport as the Field Tour bus completes its route at the Davis campus. Alternatively, San Francisco and Oakland International airports are about a 1.5 hour drive from Davis. It will be possible for Field Tour participants to make arrangements for transportation from the last two Bay Area Field Tour stops to the Oakland or San Francisco International Airports.

Enrollment Is Easy!

Register On-Line. Register online using either our

Register by Phone. Call (530) 752-6941. Please have your credit card account number handy.

Register by Fax. Fax the complete Registration Form portion from the brochure to (530) 754-4326.

Register by Mail. Complete the Registration Form portion from the brochure and send it with your payment to:

Postharvest Technology Center
Attn: Penny Stockdale
UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences, MS2
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

For more information regarding enrollment, contact registration coordinator Penny Stockdale, pastockdale@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-7672. We encourage you to register early as spaces in this course fill quickly. A wait list will be available for additional registrants.

Short Course Tour 2011: A tour stop to observe a lettuce harvest operation.