Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience included researchers, educators, extension agents, domestic and international students at Tuskegee University, food processors, marketers and small-scale farmers within Alabama and the Southeast US. Effective postharvest technology and extension education and training was delivered to target audience. Through site visit tours of the Post-harvest Demonstration Path as well as the 6-month eLearning "Train Trainers" program in postharvest technology. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students received training in constructing simple postharvest technologies such as solar dryers and zero energy control coolers (ZECC) that can be used by limited resource farmers. Eight high school students interned at the Postharvest Center over four summers. They characterized temperature and humidity in the ZECC and Wakati, two postharvest technologies and their ability to reduce field heat and extend shelf-life of summer squash as well as determining bruising thresholds of squash. Four graduate students received training on instrumented sphere technology to determine bruising threshold in several crops. Faculty participated in webinars webinars on sustainable agriculture production How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were presented on guided tours to participants of the International Comparative Rural Policy Study Institute, Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers conference and the Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences extension meeting at The University of Georgia, Professional Agricultural Workers Conferences, Association of Research Directors meetings, graduate theses and refereed journal article. Results were also disseminated through fact sheets and brochures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project has ended.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the first year of the program the project trained thirteen (13) individuals both from the Southeastern and other parts of the US to help train and assist farmers in reducing farm losses using the "Train the Trainer" approach. In Year II, the project recruited and enrolled eleven (11) new individuals and sixteen (16) in Year III from the Southeastern region who received training through e-learning and fieldwork activities. Each training cohort culminated with closing workshops. Informational pamphlets related to postharvest were developed and these were also utilized as a recruitment tools or distributed during tours. The project conducted or participated in several outreach workshops and guided tours of the postharvest center were conducted throughout the life of the project in Alabama. These include one on postharvest and GAPs for 10 farmers in Selma Alabama, 43 Professional Agricultural Workers conference attendees over multiple years, CoolBot demonstrations for approximately 200 attendees at the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences, a Zero Energy Control Cooler workshop for 15 participants as well as a Youth Engagement workshop for 20 students. Several research projects and experiments were conducted in the three years of this program. Some of these research projects were shared with the scientific community at professional scientific, and small farmers; conferences in Delaware and Virginia and the All Africa Postharvest Conference. Three MS students completed their thesis research and one is in the process of being completed. These presentations and publications are listed below:
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Danielle Smith. Produce-To-Produce Impact During Postharvest handling and Its Effect On Internal and External Bruising
On Selected Horticultural Crops, MS Thesis, Tuskegee University
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Dequarius King. Evaluation of Harvesting Intervals On The Biomass Production, Lycopene Ans Chlorophylls A, B Content of Hibiscus sabdariffa Leaves. MS. Thesis, Tuskegee University
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Makeda Nurradin. Predicting Bruising Threshold of Sweetpotato and Tomatoes Using Instrumented Sphere Technology. MS Thesis, Tuskegee University
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Murradin, M., D. Mortley and H. Aglan. 2019. Predicting Bruising Threshold of Sweetpotato Using Instrumented Sphere
Technology. Profession Agricultural Workers Conference, Dec. 4-8, 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Smith, D. and D. Mortley. Produce-to-Produce Impact during Post Harvest Handling and its Effect on Internal and External
Bruising on Selected Horticultural Crops. 18th Biennial research Symposium, Association of Research Directors, April 1-4,
2017 Atlanta Georgia.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
King, D. and D. MortleyImpact of Harvesting Intervals on Nutritive, Antinutritive Value and Yield of Leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa. 18th Biennial research Symposium, Association of Research Directors, April 1-4, 2017 Atlanta Georgia.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Smith, D.A., D.G. Mortley, A. Rochester and H. Aglan. 2019. Impact Forces During Postharvest Handling Influence
Internal and External Bruising of Vegetables. JOJ Hortic Aboric. 2(3): 1-5.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Elsa Calderon. Vermicompost soil amendment influences yield, growth responses and nutritional value of Kale (Brassica olracea) Radish [Raphanus raphanistrum subsp..sativus] and Tomato [Solanum lycopersicum(L.)]. MS. Thesis, Tuskegee University
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience included researchers, educators, extension agents, domestic and international students at Tuskegee University, food processors, marketers and small-scale farmers within Alabama and the Southeast US. Effective postharvest technology and extension education and training was delivered to target audience, through site visit tours of the Post-harvest Demonstration Path as well as the 6-month eLearning "Train Trainers" program in postharvest technology. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students received training in constructing simple postharvest technologies such as solar dryers and zero energy control coolers (ZECC) that can be used by limited resource farmers. Two high school students interned at the Postharvest Center for eight weeks during the summer of 2018. They characterized temperature and humidity in the ZECC and Wakati, two postharvest technologies and their ability to reduce field heat and extend shelf-life of summer squash. One graduate student has begun thesis research using instrumented sphere technology to determine bruising threshold in sweetpotatoes. Faculty participated in webinars webinars on sustainable agriculture production. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were presented on guided tours to participants of the International Comparative Rural Policy Study Institute, Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers conference and the Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences extension meeting at The University of Georgia. Results were also disseminated through fact sheets and brochures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Implement postharvest technology training to limited resource farmers at the Postharvest Food Technology Center Conduct adaptive research of food processing and safety to support farmers to maintain produce quality and quantity (1 graduate student to complete MS thesis research on vermicomposting application on food nutrition and safety). Complete a Postharvest Demonstration Path (as part of postharvest value chain tours for farmers, postharvest eLearners, and the public at large). Complete postharvest training for 11 current enrollees) Recruit one new graduate student to characterize bruising threshold in sweetpotato, using instrumented sphere technology Participants
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Eleven individuals comprising Tuskegee University students, extension personnel, university faculty and the agricultural industry began the 6-months using "Training of Trainers" (ToTs) postharvest 2learning program, on October 30, 2017. The course is expected to conclude with a closing workshop, study tour and graduation in June 2018. We conducted a guided tour of the recently established Postharvest Demonstration Path for 25 attendees of the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference hosted by Tuskegee University in December, 2017. The Tuskegee University, "CoolNStore" mobile CoolBot trailer was exhibited to more than 100 participants at the 2017 Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers conference, November, 2017 and garnered much interest from the attendees. The "CoolNStore" CoolBot trailer was also presented at an Agriculture and Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences update in May, 2018 along with a presentation on the construction and use as well as a hands-on demonstration to 91 Extension agents and state staff with the University of Georgia. Participants also received handouts with construction guidelines and cost-comparisons. In the following months, two agents who attended the meeting helped local clients create post-harvest cooling using a similar model. Center personnel presented a talk on the postharvest center to and hosted 40 participants of the International Comparative Rural Policy Study Institute meeting held at Tuskegee University Ju;y, 2018.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience includes researchers, educators, extension agents, domestic and international students at Tuskegee University, food processors, marketers and small-scale farmers within Alabama and the Southeast US. Effective postharvest technology and extension education and training will be delivered to target audience Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are available with project scientists. . Further, project team members conducted and received training in professional development workshops and focus groups at both the Proferssional Agricultural Workers Conference and the Annual Farmers Conference hosted by Tuskegee University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through meetings and workshops, informal "brown bag" group meetings, brochures and flyers, presentations to client groups and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Complete Postharvest Demonstration Path 2. Train farmers and participants on costs, building and proper use of the mobile coolbot, CoolNStore at the Alabama Fruits and Vegetable Growers Conference as well as the North Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference. 3. Complete the third and final E-Learners program of which 11 participants have signed up.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. E-learning Program for 10 Participants in the USA (November 2016 - June 2017). Ten individuals from Alabama, comprising farmers, cummunity leaders and graduate and undergraduate students registered for the program. The program consisted of 8 assignments, covering general information/resources, postharvest loss assessment (using the Commodity Systems Assessment Methodology or CSAM), postharvest demonstration design, cost/benefit determinations, and postharvest/food processing training program design. Four of the assignments were readings and four required submission of a written report. Each participant chose a fruit or vegetable crop produced in the Alabama/Georgia region to focus on for their assignments. Crops included blueberries, sweetpotatoes, peaches, tomatoes moringa, hibiscus and melons. 2. Establishing a Postharvest Demonstration Path. this path is designed to demonstrate simple technologies that limited resource farmers could use to reduce postharvest losses. Items on the path include 3 simple shade structures, zero energy control coolers, solar dryers (tunnel and cabinet), Wakati storage structures (tent like containers with solar powered high RH% environment and an ozone generator) were donated to the TU/PEF/WFLO project by the Belgian designer Arne Pauwels for research, training and demonstration purposes and CoolNStore, a mobile 5 x 8 mobile coolbot. 3. Closing E-learning Workshop and Small-scale Postharvest Short Course/Study Tour: Twenty participants including 6 Elearners that completed the program, farmers and students attended a 1-week closing workshop at Tuskegee University. The workshop covered temperature, humidity and packaging, handling, storage, pest management and solar drying, marketing, demonstration of small-scale tool kits, food processing, safety and GAPs.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Produce-to-Produce Impact During Postharvest Handling and its Effect on Internal and External Bruising on Selected Horticultural Crops.
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience includes researchers, educators, extension agents, domestic and international students at Tuskegee University, food processors, marketers and small-scale farmers within Alabama and the Southeast US. Effective postharvest technology and extension education and training will be delivered to target audience. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are available with project scientists. Eight of the 13 "Trainers" were either undergraduate or graduate students. Further, project team members conducted and received training in professional development workshops and focus groups at both the Proferssional Agricultural Workers Conference and the Annual Farmers Conference hosted by Tuskegee University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through meetings and workshops, informal "brown bag" group meetings, brochures and flyers, presentations to client groups and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Year II activities will include establishing a postharvest demonstration path comprising simple materials farmers can use to increase shelf-life of produce and an Inaugural Small-scale Postharvest Handling Technologies Short Course/Study Tour during the summer of 2017.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A workshop was conducted May 4-6, 2016 entitled "Small-Scale Postharvest/Food Processing Technologies for Horticultural Crops" culminating the 2015-16 E-learning program. Thirteen individuals were trained over 6-months using the "Training of Trainers" (ToTs) approach, 6 of whom were from the southeast. A pre-post evaluation assessment at the end of the workshop by 31 participants showed that 87% of respondents rated "excellent" for "information usefulness"; 60% and 47% rated "knowledge level" prior to and after the workshop as "basic", "intermediate" and "advanced", respectively. About 40% would use the information they received, "immediately" and 20% indicated "within the next month". Approximately, 93% indicated they would recommend this program to others. Small-scale farmers were encouraged and trained via local farm visits, hands-on related activities, and knowledge sharing among themselves in order to increase productivity and boost farm income. Gaining awareness of the importance relative humidity during and after produce harvest was one of the practical activities that participants showed key interest in. It is important to note that each time farm produce is transported from one point to another it is handled, delayed, placed under stress and subjected to a variety of conditions which may negatively affect the quality of the commodity and therefore its marketability. Also, some farmers desired to add value to their raw produce in order to extend its shelf life as well as make it more marketable. Thus, information through materials, exposing local fruits and vegetables to different degrees of humidity and temperature as well as field trips during the workshop addressed quite a number of these challenges.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience includes rural Alabama and South East US clientele, Extension personnel, limited resource farmers, and domestic and international students at Tuskegee University. Effective post-harvest technology and Extension education and training will be delivered to target audience Changes/Problems:Problems were encountered with the Subawardee, the Post Harvest Education because they did not have a cost sharing agreement with USDA/NIFA. Therefore, the new Subawardee now is World Food Logistics Organization, and the project activities will still be conducted by the Post Harvest Education Foundation. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students with team members and graduates student is being trained as a "Trainer." team members conducted and revceived training in professional development workshops at Professional Agricultural Workers Conference and Annual Farmers Conference hosted by Tuskegee University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information is disseminated through meetings and workshops as well as the website of the Post Harvest Education Foundation and presentation to clinet groups. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to complete the training of two groups of "Trainers" in April of 2016 and convene a postharvest training and worksho at the end. We will also complte the postharvest survey and document losses among 10 small fruits and vegetables and prepare bound modules for training of farmers in postharvesting. Further, research projects will be initiated to assess the threshold of impact forces for the 10 common fruits and vegetables outlined in the proposal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Convened initial project meeting with Postharvest Education Foundation and World Food Logistics Organization to discuss and identify activities that can be performed by the Team and expectations of our collaborators and the external Evaluator. Based on these activities, 13 individuals from the South East and Western USA were identified and selected to begin the "Train-the-Trainer" program during this first year.
Publications
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