Oct 18, 2018

Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour planned for March 4-8

The 30th annual Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour, scheduled for March 4-8, 2019, brings participants “up-close and personal” to learn how fresh subtropical, tropical and temperate fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops are handled. With exclusive, behind-the-scene visits hosted by top management, the group becomes familiar with a variety of methods and technologies employed to harvest, pack, cool, ship and receive fresh crops.

To register go to: https://postharvesttour2019.eventbrite.com

This program is coordinated by Steven Sargent and Mark Ritenour, specialists in the area of postharvest technology at the University of Florida-IFAS and is designed for produce industry professionals, educators, researchers and students in such diverse areas as field and packinghouse management, transportation, wholesale, roadside/gift and retail sales, as well as import/export.

The tour group departs from the UF campus in Gainesville and travels via a commercial bus to a variety of operations throughout Florida then returns to Gainesville. The group will visit large and small-scale operations, observe harvesting, compare cooling technologies, visit a fresh-cut processor and a major supermarket distribution center.   

Faculty coordinators

Steven Sargent received a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering Technology from Michigan State University in 1984 and joined the University of Florida in 1987.  His Extension and Research Program addresses the effects of harvest, handling, cooling, packaging, and transit operations on postharvest quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Mark Ritenour received a Ph.D. in Postharvest Physiology from University of California, Davis in 1995 and joined the University of Florida in 1998. His Extension and Research Program works to improve pre- and postharvestpractices for better quality and quality retention during transport and marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables. Steve and Mark also teach the graduate course Postharvest Technologies for Horticultural Crops, which is designed around the Postharvest Tour.

Registration deadline- Feb.  4, 2019

The registration fee includes transportation during the tour via commercial bus with Wi-Fi access. Hotel and meal costs are the responsibility of each participant.  For the nights during the Tour, we reserve a block of hotel rooms for the group in advance and each participant pays upon check out.

A limited number of educational discounts are available for university and government employees.  For more details contact Adrian Berry at [email protected].

Cancellation Policy:

Registrations cancelled by Feb. 18 will receive a full refund and after this date a partial refund ($300) will be issued.  No refunds will be issued after February 28, 2019.

Local Hotels:

Thetour will begin and end in Gainesville.  The following hotels are close to campus and provide an airport shuttle option.

• Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville
  
• SpringHill Suites Gainesville

Corporate sponsorship:

The Florida Postharvest Tour provides graduate students with practical experience as to how Florida-grown fruits and vegetables are harvested, handled and shipped. As a corporate sponsor, your name and company will be acknowledged during the tour and listed in the agenda. If your company would like to disperse information/materials to the group please let us know.

There are typically 10-15 students participating each year.  If you would be interested in joining our program as a donor, please contact Adrian Berry at [email protected].

Student sponsorship opportunities:

$500 – Covers 4 nights of hotel costs for two graduate students

$1,000 – Covers all expenses for two graduate students

$2,000 – Includes 1 free registration for your company

Thank you very much for considering our request; your assistance will help keep the costs of this program more affordable to our students.