Fruit Ripening and Quality Management Workshop January 2026, ... and more

Barbara Blanco, Director of the  Postharvest Research and Extension Center of the  University of California, in the “Director´s of update” section, November 2025 newsletter, welcomes Irwin R. Donis-González back from sabbatical and share news about upgraded meeting and research spaces at the Mann Lab in UC Davis, designed to better support industry conversations and expand our capacity for analytical, microbiology, and applied postharvest projects.

Irwin  is a specialist in Food transportation, distribution logistics, processing, storage, and the quality and safety of fresh and processed agricultural commodities. 

Maeli Melotto is highlighted in "The Postahrvest Network". She is a Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis, where her research program explores how plants interact with both plant and human pathogens to improve overall crop health and safety. Her team leads multiple projects in this area, including efforts to engineer lettuce with enhanced resistance to plant diseases and reduced susceptibility to contamination by pathogens such as Shiga toxin–producing E. coli and Salmonella. 

The section "Resources and Workshops" tells about the  Fruit Ripening and Quality Management Workshop, taking place January 8–9, 2026, at the Savannah Convention Center, and about the 2026 Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour, a unique opportunity to visit packinghouses, meet regional experts, and experience real-world postharvest practices across Florida.

"Debunking Misinformation" tells that split open by a pomegranate is not a sign of ripeness. The advise is "Instead of waiting for cracks, rely on the cues that really matter: a deep, rich color and a fruit that feels heavy for its size. A ripe pomegranate will detach with a gentle twist, no tugging, no damage to the tree, and no waiting for the fruit to break open. Harvesting at the right moment protects quality and helps reduce unnecessary losses."

Source

Postharvest Research and Extension Center, November 2025 Newsletter