A Web-Based Postharvest Technology Resource
February 1, 2008 We have all found ourselves in need of immediate information during the course of our work day. You may have a question about the best storage conditions for a new fruit you are handling, or wonder what might have caused the spots you are seeing on your berries. If you Google the word “Postharvest,” the first source you will find is the University of California (UC)-Davis’ Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center. I am proud to be a member of the team that developed and regularly updates this Web page, which has become the most commonly referred to by postharvest fruit professionals, with more than 200,000 hits per month.
Why have so many found the Web site of the UC-Davis Postharvest Technology Center (http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu) to be such a good source of information? Following is an overview of what can be found on this site.
Produce Facts
One of the most popular resources found on the Postharvest Technology Web site is the collection of Produce Facts. These are two- to three-page summaries of the recommendations for postharvest handling of most fruit (vegetables and flowers too), including harvest maturity, quality indices, storage temperature, and common disorders. The Produce Facts are also available in Spanish and Arabic, and several are available in French.
Postharvest Yellowpages
Another very useful resource on the site is the Postharvest Yellowpages. Here you will find contact information for the companies who provide equipment and services related to various aspects of postharvest handling of fruit, for example, modified atmosphere packaging supplies, cooling equipment, gas sampling, ripening supplies, and fruit quality evaluation tools.
Postharvest Library And Bookstore
The faculty and cooperative Extension specialists affiliated with the Center have provided full copies of their research and popular articles on the Web site. These publications are organized by topic and are searchable as well. There are more than 600 articles in approximately 90 categories currently available, from “Apple” to “Water Disinfestation.” You can also find information about the many publications on handling of fruit after harvest that have been authored by our members and are available for sale. These include the very popular Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops, Third Edition, and the Transportation of Chilled Produce Series: Marine, Refrigerated Trailer and Air Transport.
Calendar
Under the calendar listing you will find lists of upcoming meetings and courses at the University of California and beyond that are related to postharvest handling and production of fruit (or vegetables). The upcoming courses and events hosted by the Postharvest Technology Center are also highlighted on the Web site’s home page.
Find Experts
Here you will find easy access to the faculty and Extension personnel resources throughout the University of California system in the broad area of handling and maintaining fruit after harvest — both at UC-Davis and UC-Riverside. You can also find information about consultants who work in the postharvest area under the Yellowpages section.
Links To Related Sites
On the Postharvest Technology Web page, you will find links to the most useful Web pages for postharvest information of those we are aware of. Examples of some of these sites include: Avocado Source, University of Florida, Postharvest Group, Sydney Postharvest Laboratory, Washington State University Postharvest Information, European Union Standards for Fruits and Vegetables, National Organic Program Standards, USDA APHIS Phytosanitary and Quarantine Guidelines, and Partnership for Food Safety Information, to name a few.
I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Postharvest Technology Web site and consider bookmarking the page for future reference when you need to find information related to proper handling or quality of fruit. This site can be used as a portal to other sites with important information you may need. We constantly update the information on this site, and you can also sign up to receive our electronic e-mail newsletter for information about additions to the Web site and upcoming events by clicking the link on the homepage. This Web site is supported by the Department of Plant Sciences at UC-Davis and by contributions to the UC Postharvest Program Endowment (see the link on the home page to contribute). Your feedback and contributions are always welcome.
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