Postharvest Department

Mission

Enhancing the shelf life, quality and nutritive value of locally grown horticultural crops and their products.

Reducing postharvest losses and solving specific postharvest problems in horticultural crops during storage and distribution in domestic and export
markets.

Current Research Projects

Long term quality storage of "wet" Medjool date fruits.

Cultivar and seasonal variations in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
fruit quality.

Health-promoting ingredients and activity of marula (Sclerocarrya birrea
subsp. caffra) fruit extracts.

Date fruit chemical composition in relation to the date spider mite
(Oligonychus afrasiaticus) phenology.

Research Facilities and Equipment

The Postharvest Research Laboratory of the Southern Arava R&D
encompasses well equipped facilities for (a) fruit quality, chemistry and biochemistry studies, and (b) fruit minimal processing conduct.

The minimal processing facility includes low- and high-risk rooms, and is
equipped with a laminar flow hood and a controlled-atmosphere packing apparatus.