Charting new directions: June 21 event at UC Davis

Industry friend Jim Gorny, now at UC Davis, passes along news of this event. Also find it in the calendar at the bottom of blog.



DAVIS, CA (May 20, 2008) – An all star line-up of produce industry executives and academicians are slated to provide their strategic insights regarding some of the most pressing issues facing the produce industry at a very special one day symposium entitled “Charting New Directions In Postharvest Biology & Technology” to be held June 21, 2008 on the UC Davis campus.

Three pivotal sessions have been planned.

Session 1 – The Consumer Produce Experience: Explores the hurdles and effective strategies that may be used to increase consumer satisfaction and consumption of fresh produce.
Session 2 – Assuring Produce Buyer Confidence: Explores what information produce executives will need to make informed business decisions regarding produce safety, quality and marketability to assure business sustainability and competitiveness into the future.
Session 3 – Charting New Directions to Meet Postharvest Challenges and Opportunities: Explores
high priority produce research and education activities that are needed to meet produce industry needs.

Symposium Speakers Include:
James Truscott, VP of Sales and Marketing for Wild Rocket Foods, supply chain partner of Fresh & Easy (Tesco USA)
Nick Tompkins, Chairman of the Board, APIO Inc.
Nick Kukulan, President & CEO, Paramount Export Co.
Dennis Gipson, Executive VP of the Cold Chain, Ingersoll Rand Climate Control Technologies
Robert Whitaker, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Produce Marketing Association
Deirdre Holcroft, Ph.D., Research & Development Manager, AgroFresh Inc.
Keri Morrelli, Technical Services Manager, APIO Inc.
Patrick Brecht, Ph.D., President, P.E.B. Commodities Inc.
UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center Faculty including: Roberta Cook, Carlos Crisosto, Jim Gorny, Beth Mitcham, Mike Reid and Jim Thompson.
“We are thrilled to have these produce industry luminaries providing their insights at our symposium,” said UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center Academic Director Jim Thompson. “We very much respect what all of these executives have accomplished in the produce industry and we value the opportunity to learn how the postharvest program at UC Davis can best address emerging issues in the produce industry. We envision that this symposium with produce industry leaders and produce researchers from UC Davis and other leading academic institutions will provide a roadmap toward innovative solutions” he said.

Detailed information including how to register for the Charting New Directions In Postharvest Biology & Technology Symposium may be found on the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center website at http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/announce/30thanniversary.shtml or by contacting Ms. Penny Stockdale, registration coordinator, at (530) 754-4326 or pastockdale@ucdavis.edu.

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The mission of the University of California Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center is to reduce postharvest losses and improve the quality, safety and marketability of fresh horticultural products. Visit the center online at http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu. Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center, Department of Plant Sciences/MS2, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, Tel: (530) 752-6941, Fax: (530) 754-4326, E-mail: postharvest@ucdavis.edu

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