We'll be adding more LINKS to postharvest technology information.
UN Postharvest Information Website

Univeristy of California, Davis PTRIC

Produce Marketing Association

TRAINING IN POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY LINKS

Extension Systems International
P.O. Box 3130
Quartzsite, Arizona 85359 USA
Phone: (916) 708 7218

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Links to Postharvest Information on the Web

Sources of Information on the Internet

Please copy and paste the following URLs into your browser to visit the sites listed. Use your BACK button to return to this webpage.

Postharvest Equipment and Supplies

http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu
The on-line Postharvest Resource Directory can be searched by keyword for hundreds of supplies and a wide variety of postharvest equipment and tools.

http://qasupplies.com
The International Ripening Company offers a wealth of products for handling produce from the identifying maturity in the field to managing the ripening room at the retail level.

Grades and Standards, Phyto-Sanitary Regulations

http://www.ams.usda.gov
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ (Fruit & Vegetable Programs)
http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/ (Transportation & Marketing Programs)
Agricultural Marketing Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service includes six commodity programs--Cotton, Dairy, Fruit and Vegetable, Livestock and Seed, Poultry, and Tobacco. The programs employ specialists who provide standardization, grading and market news services for those commodities. They enforce such Federal Laws as the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and the Federal Seed Act. AMS commodity programs also oversee marketing agreements and orders, administer research and promotion programs, and purchase commodities for Federal food programs.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/
The mission of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is to protect America's animal and plant resources by:
• Safeguarding resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases,
• Monitoring and managing agricultural pests and diseases existing in the United States,
• Resolving and managing trade issues related to animal or plant health, and
• Ensuring the humane care and treatment of animals.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/manuals/online_manuals.html
A list of the APHIS/Plant Protection and Quarantine Manuals that are available electronically.

Marketing of Agricultural Products

http://www.bluebookprco.com/
The Produce Reporter Company Blue Book Services allow members to check out vital business information such as credit ratings of potential buyers.

http://www.agoa.gov/
President Clinton signed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) into law on May 18, 2000 as Title 1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000. The Act offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets. Included in this website are a few the resources African businesses can use to either search or post information on the products or services they wish to sell. Unless otherwise noted, the services provided by these websites are free.

www.pma.com
The Produce Marketing Association, founded in 1949, is a not-for-profit global trade association serving over 2,400 members who market fresh fruits, vegetables, and related products worldwide. Its members are involved in the production, distribution, retail, and foodservice sectors of the industry.

Food Safety Information

http://foodsafe.ucdavis.edu
University of California’s Food Safe program offers information for growers that assists in their efforts to protect food safety.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/pestadd.html
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - Any pesticide used in growing and post-harvest treatment of each produce item must be registered for use in the United States for the particular produce item. Pesticide residues must not exceed established limits.

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/
Cornell University’s Good Agricultural Practices Program offers a free copy of a grower’s guide entitled Food Safety Begins on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

Postharvest Handing Practices

postharvest.ucdavis.edu
At this University of California (UC) website you will find a wide range of fact sheets on individual fruits and vegetables, temperature recommendations for storage, links to suppliers of postharvest equipment and many reference articles on the postharvest handling of perishables.

www.fao.org/inpho/
This United Nations website includes a variety of FAO and other publications that users can browse on-line or download for their personal use. The UCDavis training publication. Small-Scale Postharvest Handling Practices: A Manual for Horticultural Crops (3rd edition) provides cost-effective recommendations on improved handling of fruits and vegetables from the farm to the market. It is available on the website in English, French and Spanish. Other publications focus on packaging, storage, marketing or training and extension.

www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/postharv/
This website sponsored by North Carolina State University offers information on postharvest cooling and storage options for many commodities.

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu
This website describes the many publications, slide sets and videos on agriculture and horticulture developed and offered for sale by the University of California. There is also a long list of free publications available to read online or to download.

What is the cost?

There is no charge for mentoring services. Just send an e-mail or mail a letter to Dr. Lisa, and she will do her best to answer your question or point you in the right direction. Many training materials are available via e-mail at no charge. A CDRom packed full of practical training materials is available at a small fee (to cover the cost of copying, postage and packaging materials).