Research

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Research Extension Areas

• Postharvest Technology RIC
• Energy use in cooling drying operations.
• Alternative energy sources for ag.
• Cold storage design.
• Optimum use of refrigerated transport.
• Package design for cooling and damage reduction.
• Quality detection.
• Harvest mechanization
• Air pollution from ag sources.

2
Freeze Damage Detection

• Jim Thompson David Slaughter
• Mike McCarthy Marylu Arpaia
• Dave Obenland Young-Jin Choi

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Problem

• Freeze damage immediately after a freeze is
  determined by cutting fruit, but industry needs
  an instrument method.

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CDFA Damage evaluation

• CDFA damage two segments w/ two water soaked
  sides (15 damage).

5
Headspace Etoh sampling

• One quart Ziplock bag

Alco-sensor IV - 800 Intoximeters, Inc St.
Louis, MO 314-429-4000
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NMR System
Electronics
Magnet
Determine T2 decay value of analog signal
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Conclusions - ETOH

• Headspace ethanol is 80 to 100 accurate in
  identifying freeze damaged oranges.
• At room temperature equilibrium time 15 min.
• At 50F and 59F equilibrium time 30 min.
• Sensor cost 800.

8
Conclusions - NMR

• NMR is 83 to 85 accurate.
• Instantaneous results.
• Device will cost about 40,000.

9
Non Destructive Firmness Measurement for Bartlett
Pears

• Jim Thompson David Slaughter
• Biological Ag. Engineering Dept.
• UC Davis

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Project Goals

• Develop a nondestructive method of firmness
  detection to replace penetrometer.
• Device useful for harvest determination and
  ripening management.

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Sinclair

• Bench top unit
• 5000

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Durometer

• Use E tip for pears
• Hand held
• Stand mounted
• 600 - 1100

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Comparison with Penetrometer
Durometer E Hardness
linear regression using penetrometer firmness gt
10lbs y0.99(x) 70.7, R20.50
logarithmic regression using all data y
14.174Ln(x) 47.45, R2 0.9028
Penetrometer Firmness (lbs)
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Packaging for Soft Pears

• Jim Thompson David Slaughter

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Project Goals

• Develop a packaging system allowing soft, ripe
  pears to be marketed. Consider both retail and
  food service markets.

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UCD Suspended Tray Hammock Pack
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How Does it Work?

• Separates fruit.
• Immobilizes fruit.
• Clamshell protects fruit on display.

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Testing
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Rice Quality Studies

• Cass Mutters, Jim Thompson, Elaine Champagne

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Goals

• Improve flavor
• Increase head rice quality
• Increase grower return

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Holding Wet Paddy Rice
JMAF
24 hr
8 hr
UCD
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Optimum Harvest Moisture
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Head Rice QualityCalifornia medium grain rice
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Objectives

• Describe the relationship between weather and
  rice moisture that causes the wide range of HRY.
• Determine conditions at harvest that produce high
  quality and high value rice.

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Quality at Harvest
Head Rice Yield ()
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Harvest Moisture Content ()
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Sample milling Infrared Drying

• Zhongli Pan Jim Thompson

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Sample milling

• Increase repeatability
• Increase head and total yield

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Vacuum Infrared Rice Drying

• Improve quality
• Reduce costs