Postharvest and quality

Sarah McKay, a 2021 recipient of the $ 10,000 Costa Honors Scholarship in Agricultural Sciences, is investigating postharvest storage conditions and the influence this has on key quality characteristics of blueberries.

Sarah, originally from Allens Rivulet, is pursuing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honors in Hobart through the University of Tasmania.

New approaches

“My project revolves around postharvest storage conditions, mainly temperature, and its influence on the key quality characteristics of blueberries over time. Characteristics include color, aroma and texture, with an emphasis on the influence conditions have on flavor profiles, ”said Sarah.

“These characteristics are tested using an electronic tongue (e-tongue), as well as a number of other instrumental methods and a human taste panel for comparison. The e-tongue is a piece of technology that hasn't been widely used on fresh fruit, especially blueberries, so this is an important focus for my project."

Consumidores

Sarah said the results from the instrumental methods and the human tastes panel would help map consumers' buying habits based on quality characteristics.

Sarah, who also worked during the summer break in quality control at the Costa Berries blueberry farm in Sulfur Creek, said she was eager to pursue a career in horticulture.

Tasmanian Blueberry

“Working at Costa allowed me to gain insight into the processes involved in the production and harvest of blueberries in Northwest Tasmania,” he said.

“The scholarships have taken some of the pressure off and helped with the costs of living away from home.”

The recipient of the Costa Fellowship undergraduate in Agricultural Sciences for 2021-2024 is Jack Schouten, who is in the first year of a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Honors.