Training Agricultural Educators to Reduce Postharvest Losses in Fresh Produce Through Improved Packaging and Transportation Practices

Commodities

• Fruits: apples, berries (blueberries), berries (strawberries), cherries, grapes

Practices

• Education and Training: extension, mentoring, workshop

Summary

Postharvest losses in specialty crops such as apples, blueberries, and grapes remain a significant source of economic loss and food waste, often driven by inadequate packaging, handling, and transportation practices. Although research has identified effective strategies to reduce these losses, many producers continue to rely on traditional methods due to limited training.

This project will provide professional development for MSU Extension educators, equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to reduce postharvest losses through improved packaging design, shelf-life management, and transportation practices. The program will begin with stakeholder engagement, including surveys and meetings with educators, growers, distributors, and a consultant to validate and prioritize training needs.

A structured training program will be developed consisting of eight instructional sessions and three hands-on laboratory activities covering primary packaging and shelf life, secondary packaging design, distribution dynamics, and real-world industry challenges. Two graduate students will support course development and implementation.

Training will be delivered through a three-day workshop at Michigan State University, offered twice (December 2027 and January 2028) to provide scheduling flexibility. The project will train a total of 8 Extension educators across the two offerings, who are expected to reach at least 24 producers, packers, and distributors through their outreach activities.

Outcomes include increased educator knowledge, improved advisory practices, and more informed decision-making among producers. These efforts are expected to contribute to reduced postharvest losses, improved product quality, and more sustainable specialty crop supply chains.

This project will generate measurable outputs focused on training Extension educators and enabling effective knowledge transfer to specialty crop producers, packers, and distributors.

Training Outputs

• 8 MSU Extension educators trained through a structured, hands-on program
• Delivery of:
  • 8 instructional sessions
  • 3 laboratory sessions
  • 1 three-day workshop, offered twice for scheduling flexibility

These outputs ensure that participating educators gain both conceptual understanding and applied experience in packaging, handling, and distribution practices.

Educational Resources

The project will develop and deliver reusable materials designed for Extension application, including:

• A structured training curriculum (8 instructional modules + 3 laboratory modules)
• Simplified demonstration protocols that can be implemented without specialized laboratory equipment
• Practical guidance materials (e.g., fact sheets, decision-support tools) for packaging and handling improvements
• Case studies and applied examples derived from real-world specialty crop systems

Laboratory activities will build foundational understanding; however, materials will be specifically designed so that Extension educators can apply and communicate concepts without requiring laboratory equipment. When needed, laboratory facilities at MSU or partner institutions may be accessed to support advanced demonstrations.

Outreach and Impact Tracking

• Each trained educator is expected to reach at least 3 producers, packers, or distributors
• Total estimated reach: ≥24 stakeholders

Outreach will be documented and monitored through follow-up reporting (3-6 months post-training), including:

• Number and type of stakeholders engaged
• Type of outreach (e.g., workshop, consultation)
• Examples of recommended or adopted practices

This ensures that project impact is measurable and directly linked to educator activities.

Partnership Outputs

The project will engage industry partners, including:

• North Bay Produce (Traverse City, MI)
• Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc. (Sparta, MI)

These partners, both producers and distributors, may contribute-consistent with their organizational policies-through:

• Guest lectures and participation in training sessions
• Sharing practical insights and operational perspectives
• Providing packaging examples, product samples, or case studies where feasible

Their involvement will ensure that training content reflects real-world supply chain conditions.

Dissemination Outputs

Project methods, materials, and outcomes will be disseminated through:

• Extension networks and educator-led outreach programs
• Professional meetings and conferences (e.g., IAPRI, IFPA Expo, USDA-supported groups such as S-294)

Dissemination will focus on sharing both:

• the training model (workshop + lab + outreach structure)
• and the importance of packaging and distribution education in reducing postharvest losses

These efforts will support broader adoption of the approach and extend the project's impact beyond direct participants.