The 29th Annual Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour

Mon 5 Mar to Fri 9 Mar. Fifield Hall, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Gainesville, 32611. $600. UF IFAS Alachua County Extension - [events]

The Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour 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.

This program is coordinated by Dr. Steven Sargent and Dr. 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.

Registration includes transportation during the tour. Hotel and food are to be paid by the participant.