Archived News | BFTV Cluster News

Exit Seminar - Zatil Afrah, September 16, 2024

An Exit Seminar will be held Monday, September 16, 2024 at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm PDT.

In-person in room 1207 Robert Mondavi Institute South or via Zoom.

Poll Zhang wins IIFH Undergrad Fellowship; presents at Summer Conference

Poll Zhang, an undergraduate in Dr. Alyson Mitchell's lab, presented in the 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Center Symposium. Poll received an undergraduate fellowship from the Innovation Institute for Food and Health. This was a six-week fellowship that resulted in her talk, titled “Almond Shells: An Innovative Solution for Winery Wastewater and Their Potential as a Health-Enhancing Food Supplement”, which you can see her presenting in the pictures below.

Marco and Mitchell win 2024 Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Awards

Food Science and Technology

A big congratulations to Food Science and Technology's Drs. Maria Marco (Food Science Graduate Group) and Alyson Mitchell (Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Group) for each receving the Graduate Studies 2024 Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Award!

Exit Seminar - Rachel Wang, August 22, 2024

Food Science and Technology

An Exit Seminar will be held Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm PDT.

In-person in room 1207 Robert Mondavi Institute South or via Zoom.

Exit Seminar - Minami Ogawa, September 11, 2024, 12:00 pm.

Food Science and Technology

An Exit Seminar will be held Wednesday, September 11th at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT.

In-person in room 3215 Robert Mondavi Institute South, or you can attend remotely by Zoom.

Alum Kathy Westphal and Dole Whip featured in Sacramento Bee

Food Science and Technology

Did you know that the popular Dole Whip frozen treat was invented by a young UC Davis Food Science graduate? Kathy Westphal '82, at 24 years old, created the product in her first job at Dole after she graduated. Read the complete story in Benjy Egel's "How a young UC Davis graduate invented Dole Whip, a Disney theme park staple".

Exit Seminar - Maany Ramanan, August 23, 2024, 10:00 am.

Food Science and Technology

An Exit Seminar will be held Friday, August 23rd at 10:00 am PDT.

In-person in room 1207 Robert Mondavi Institute South, or you can attend remotely by Zoom.

From Waste to Taste - The Transformative Power of Fermented Foods

Food Science and Technology

In this interview and video conducted for News-Medical.net at Pittcon Conference and Exposition 2024 in San Diego, FST Professor Maria Marco discusses her research on the health benefits, safety, and waste reduction potential of fermented foods, and the microbial processes involved in their production.

Read the full interview, and watch the video below.

In Vino Analytica Scientia 2024 Conference

Viticulture and Enology

The 13th In Vino Analytica Scientia (IVAS) Conference was held in Davis, California, July 9-12, 2024. The conference featured an opening plenary lecture by Dr. Fulvio Mattivi of the Edmund Mach Foundation, Michele all’Adige, Italy. Keynote speakers and submitted oral and poster presentations covered six conference themes:

Unit 18 Lecturer for FST131 - Fall 2024

Food Science and Technology

This comprehensive food packaging course covers essential topics such as the fundamental functions and definitions of packaging; the interactions between food, packaging, and the environment; and the properties of various packaging materials. Students explore current packaging trends, techniques for determining food shelf-life, and specialized packaging methods for dry, moisture-sensitive, heat-processed, and frozen foods, as well as beverages. The course also delves into advanced concepts like Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), sustainable packaging practices including material reduction and recycling, and an overview of food packaging laws and regulations.

FST at IAFP and IFT FIRST, July 14-17, 2024

Food Science and Technology

Several of our Food Science and Technology faculty, graduate students and leadership board members and will be participating at the upcoming In-Person IAFP Annual Meeting 2024, to be held July 14-17th, 2024 in Long Beach, California.

Aspiring Food Scientist Creates Low-Calorie, Eco-Friendly Candy Product

Food Science and Technology

‘Fit Candy’ is Made from Upcycled Watermelon Rinds

Driven by his passion for food science and brimming with ideas, UC Davis student Dion Skaria created Fit Candy – a nutritious treat that blends sweet and sour flavors while reducing food waste. This innovative gummy candy is crafted from upcycled watermelon rinds.

Awards and Announcements

Viticulture and Enology

The following is a list of awards, honors, and announcements about Viticulture and Enology Faculty, Staff, Students, Executive Leadership Board members & UCCE Advisors.

Spring 2024 Extension Update

Viticulture and Enology

The Extension team started off the first half of 2024 at the Unified Symposium on January 24 and 25. The Department had a booth, where we got to meet with a lot of attendees, and hosted our annual reception, where we got to catch up with many alumni and friends! We also announced our new department chair, Ben Montpetit!

Research Profile: Block Lab

Viticulture and Enology

The Block lab is working in several areas related to wine. First, we are continuing our work with the Oberholster lab trying to gain a deeper understanding of phenolic extraction in red wines to be able to control the finished wine phenolic profile more efficiently. Over the last decade, we have examined the impact of cap and juice temperature on phenolic extraction, as well as the impact of cap management (also in conjunction with E. & J.

Course Profile: VEN 126

Viticulture and Enology

The Physical and Chemical Stability of Wine (a.k.a. VEN 126 Wine Stability) course deals with the most important physical, chemical, and enzymatic reactions in juices and wines, together with the theory and principles associated with the adjustment of acidity, fining, stabilization for shipping, and the clarification of wines. The course provides students with a scientific basis and a quantitative perspective of our understanding of the physical and chemical reactions in wines, other than ethanol and malolactic fermentations.

Student Profile: Justin Ito

Viticulture and Enology

Student standing: Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior/Graduate etc.
2nd-year master's degree student

Degree/Focus/interest areas:
Viticulture and Enology

Where are you from originally?
Los Angeles, CA

What brought you to UC Davis?
I knew I wanted to learn everything there is to know about wine and Davis is the best place to start! The program is well-rounded, and I love learning about the reasoning behind important decisions in the winery.

Alumni Profile: Nicole Marchesi

Viticulture and Enology

Year and degree of graduation
B.S. in Viticulture & Enology, 2003

Current job title/company
Winemaker, Far Niente Winery

Grad Student Exit Seminar, June 14, 2024, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Food Science and Technology

A Graduate Student Exit Seminar will be held Friday, June 14, 2024, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT.

In-person in room 3215 Robert Mondavi Institute South, or you can attend remotely by Zoom: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/99572934447

World Food Safety Day, June 7, 2024

Food Science and Technology

Food Science and Technology's Cooperative Extension would like to wish you all a happy and safe World Food Safety Day today, June 7th. World Food Safety Day is an initiative that was started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The motto for this year is "Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected".