United Fresh 2008

The United Fresh Produce Association has highlighted the leading academic and government researchers in speciality crop research who will take part at United Fresh 2011, held in New Orleans on 2-5 May this year.

United Fresh's annual convention and expo will once again feature posters on food safety, quality assurance and fresh fruit and vegetable marketing as part of its S-294 Poster Sessions.

'Innovation is the lifeblood of the fresh produce industry, and innovation starts with cutting-edge research,' said United Fresh senior vice-president of food safety and technology Dr David Gombas. 'The research on display at United Fresh 2011 holds the key to developing everything from new products, to safer approaches to processing, to unique ways producers can reach their customers.'

The poster session at United Fresh is presented through the S-294 project, 'Postharvest Quality and Safety in Fresh-cut Vegetables and Fruits', a USDA-authorised research project that addresses technological opportunities and complex problem-solving activities related to fresh-cut products.

Research being conducted as part of the project involves the integration of physiological, pathological, food safety, and instrumental and sensory quality measurement concepts that are essential for developing the most effective handling procedures and innovative, new technologies for maintaining the quality, safety and shelf stability of fresh-cut products.