Fruit Ripening and Ethylene Workshop | Ripening Avocados | Mary Lu Arpaia

Mary Lu Arpaia's workshop highlights the importance of understanding avocado history, including harvest time, maturity, and storage, for successful ripening. She addresses challenges such as chilling injury prevention, temperature control below 70°F, ethylene use, and how fruit maturity affects ripening time. Topics include identifying chilling injuries, understanding dry matter content, managing decay, and avoiding temperature-related issues. The session also discusses essential equipment, such as penetrometers and uniform heating systems. This workshop benefits operators of ripening facilities, distributors, and supply chain professionals who seek to enhance quality and minimize losses. Presenter: Dr. Mary Lu Arpaia, UC Riverside Keywords: avocado ripening, post-harvest handling, ethylene treatment, chilling injury, fruit maturity, commercial ripening, UC Riverside extension, temperature management, avocado quality, ripening rooms