Mission:
The mission of the Citrus & Other Subtropical Products Unit is to conduct agricultural, postharvest and food science research from “farm to fork to by-products”. The Unit mission is to: 1) grow fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops in a subtropical climate using sustainable methods with reduced chemical input; 2) use sensory analyses to determine perceptible quality and flavor traits as affected by genetics, cultural practices, disease or postharvest/processing techniques; 3) conduct chemical analyses for flavor compounds, nutrients and phytonutrients for correlation to agricultural practices and sensory analyses to enhance or predict flavor quality and health benefits; 4) work with plant breeders to identify advanced breeding lines with desired levels of flavor or health-related compounds; 5) investigate by-products from the citrus processing waste stream for industrial, pharmacological, and food-related product development.