2027 Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour

Go behind the scenes of Florida's produce industry and learn how fresh produce is handled to maintain quality, safety, and shelf life. The Florida Postharvest Horticulture Tour provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at how fresh fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops are handled after harvest. Participants visit a variety of industry facilities across Florida and learn about the technologies and practices used to harvest, pack, cool, store, ship, and receive fresh products. Hosted by industry management, the tour typically includes large and small-scale packing operations, a fresh-cut processor, a supermarket distribution center, and a port facility, offering a comprehensive view of the fresh produce supply chain. The program is coordinated by Dr. Steven Sargent and Dr. Mark Ritenour, University of Florida-IFAS specialists in postharvest physiology and technology. The tour is intended for produce industry professionals, educators, researchers and graduate students interested in postharvest handling, packinghouse management, transportation, sales, and import/export. Registration Details: Registration ($900) Ends February 8, 2027 The registration fee includes transportation during the tour via commercial motor coach with Wi-Fi access. Participants are responsible for hotel accommodations and meals. A group hotel block is reserved for tour participants, with each guest responsible for payment at checkout. A limited number of educational discounts are available for university and government employees. For additional information, contact Adrian Berry at [email protected]. Cancellation Policy: • Cancellations received by Feb 26th will receive a full refund. • Cancellations after Feb 26th will receive a 50% refund. Local Hotels: The tour begins and ends in Gainesville, Florida. Participants requiring accommodations before or after the tour should contact Adrian Berry for assistance. Corporate Sponsorship: The Florida Postharvest Tour provides our graduate students with practical experience of how Florida-grown fruits and vegetables are harvested, handled and shipped. There are typically 15 students participating each year. As a corporate sponsor, your name and company will be acknowledged during the tour and listed in the agenda. If you would be interested in joining our program as a sponsor or distributing information/materials, please contact Adrian Berry at [email protected]. Student Sponsorship Opportunities: $600 – Covers expenses for 2 graduate students $1,200 – Covers expenses for 4 graduate students $2,000 – Includes 1 complimentary company registration and covers all expenses for two graduate students Thank you for supporting student participation and helping keep this educational program affordable.