Category: Food Safety

Three persons evaluating strawberries for decay and damage

Postharvest Lab Research Targets Strawberry and Blueberry Fruit Quality and Shelf Life

by Joe McQueen
April 13, 2026

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center’s (IRREC) Postharvest Technology lab, led by Mark Ritenour, is researching how to reduce decay in strawberries and blueberries ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Food Safety, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Blueberries, Fruit Quality, Postharvest, Strawberries
big blue sign that says Orange County University of Florida IFAS Extension Education Center with an UF/IFAS logo and an Orange County logo. there are green trees and blue sky in the background.

Fresh Picks: The Month’s Classes

by Chris Weber
March 18, 2026

April is a great time to put knowledge into action. Our April lineup features classes on gardening and sustainability, financial education, and healthy living, along with hands-on opportunities to learn from Extension agents and volunteers. Explore ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Blog Community, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Money Matters, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Classes, Events, Extension Education, Learning, Ocextension, Orangecountyfl, UFIFASExtension
Angelia Chen and Suraj Gurung hold awards at SAEA annual meeting

UF FRE Ph.D. Candidate Suraj Gurung Places 3rd in SAEA Job Market Paper Competition

by Savannah Bailey
March 3, 2026

Food and Resource Economics Ph.D. candidate Suraj Gurung placed third in the Job Market Paper Competition at the 2026 Southern Applied Economics Association (SAEA) annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.  A job market paper presents a ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Professional Development
Tags: Food And Resource Economics Awards, Food And Resource Economics Department, Food And Resource Economics Graduate Students
Stack of Peanut Butter

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: 2025 Wrap Up

by Jasi Romero
February 18, 2026

Thank You, Polk County! The 2025 Annual Peanut Butter Challenge was an incredible success! This year, our community came together in a big way to fight hunger and support families across Polk County. Every jar donated represents hope, nourishment, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Anikolai, Charity, Donate, Education, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Hot Topic, Nutrition, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, The Peanut Butter
images of red peppers, black raspberries, grapes, cherry tomatoes etc.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, we naturally start thinking red, making it the perfect time to add more RED fruits and vegetables to our day.

by Elizabeth Shephard
February 10, 2026

Did you know red foods are packed with nutrients that help support your overall wellness? Many of the powerful antioxidants found in red foods can help: Support your immune system Improve cardiovascular health Support brain function ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Food, Frutis, Health, Nutrition, Red…, Valentine’s, Vegetables
Person uses meat thermometer to check doneness of chicken while grilling.

The Importance of Using a Food Thermometer

by Gillian McGuire
January 30, 2026

I cannot cook a meal without my trusty digital food thermometer. It gives me peace of mind and better health. It may be ever so tempting to assume food is fully cooked by looking at it, but this is not a reliable way to confirm food is safe ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Work & Life
Tags: Ask IFAS, EDIS Journal, Family Nutrition And Health, Food Safety, Food Science And Human Nutrition Department, Health, Thermometer
A plate of green and black olives.

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Food Science and Human Nutrition (Nov.–Dec.)

by Gillian McGuire
January 8, 2026

Fermented Foods: Olives By Fidela Gjondrekaj and Wendy J. Dahl. Olives are small fruit that grow on the olive tree, scientifically known as Olea europaea. These fruit have been cultivated and consumed for thousands of years, primarily ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition
Tags: Ask IFAS, Cooking Safety, EDIS Journal, Food Safety, Food Science And Human Nutrition Department, Nutrition, Olives

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