In late June we sent an email out to our 2009 and 2010 Postharvest Technology Short Course participants. The Postharvest Technology Short Course is a week-long intensive study of a broad spectrum of postharvest topics, including lectures and labs, followed by an optional week-long tour of postharvest facilities around California. We were curious about the continuing impact made on those who had attended the course. We especially wanted to know if the information they learned had made a difference in their business practices, and if the course continued to provide an ongoing benefit to those who attended.
When asked if the information learned in the lectures was helpful to them currently, 87% of those who responded indicated that it was still “very helpful” or “extremely helpful”. Sixty-five percent of those who responded, additionally reported that they had been able to reduce postharvest losses using the information they learned in the course, with 15% of those responses telling us that their business had saved $50K or more annually.
When asked if attendance at the short course benefitted them professionally, 100% of the respondents said “Yes.” Several added personal notes to their feedback, including the following comment: “This course gave me and my company lots of benefits, improving our shelf life, keeping the best taste in our fruits and vegetables, and helping to promote nutritious food.”