Deirdre M. Holcroft

**** ****** **, ***** ** ****8

Tel: 530-***-**** (a/h)

Cell: 530-***-****

Skype: deirdre.holcroft

Email: abp673@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

PRESIDENT: Holcroft Postharvest Consulting Inc., Davis CA

From Sept 2011

Provides horticultural and postharvest expertise to clients in the produce, ornamental and food

industries.

Clients include vegetable and fruit growers, fresh-cut processors, seed companies, tissue culture

labs, packaging, technology and equipment suppliers.

A founding member of the Global Fresh Technology Group.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: AgroFresh Inc., Davis CA

Feb 2006 August 2011

Managed research program including contract research and conducting in house research on a

wide range of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. Research focused on produce quality, shelf life

extension and commercial value creation.

Provided technical support to the commercial team, including meeting with customers, conducting

demonstration trials and technical presentations.

Transitioned research projects to commercial applications.

Filed patents to support new business.

Coordinated with other departments to commercialize proprietary technology, including registration

in California.

Managed all aspects of the Davis facility including hiring and supervision of all staff, site and

environment, health and safety (EHS) requirements.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SCIENTIST, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Soledad CA.

June 2003-October 2005

Research and development on fresh-cut fruit from concept to commercial production.

Postharvest projects on process optimization, packaging and handling of fruits and vegetables as

commodities and value-added products.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

Jan 2002- May 2003

Conducted research on postharvest physiology and handling of vegetable crops.

Taught undergraduate and graduate students.

Consultant on US AID project on fruits and vegetables.

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (SENIOR LECTURER): Department of Horticultural Science, University of

Stellenbosch, South Africa

January 1999-December 2001

Supervised a range of postharvest projects, including color development in pome fruit, storage of

plums and pears, ethylene effects on avocados and leaf blackening of Protea flowers.

Taught undergraduate and graduate students.

Consultant to various fruit and vegetable industries, including a major supermarket distribution

center.

PhD STUDENT: Department of Pomology, University of California, Davis.

January 1995-December 1998

Conducted research in postharvest physiology of strawberries and pomegranates stored in

controlled atmospheres.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (LECTURER): Department of Horticultural Science, University of KwaZulu Natal,

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

June 1991-December 1994

Conducted research on ornamental crops.

Taught undergraduate students.

Consultant to flower growers.

ASSISTANT RESEARCH FELLOW: Department of Horticultural Science, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg,

South Africa

August 1989-May 1991

Investigated the effects of fertilization with inorganic and organic fertilizers, soil fumigation, plastic

mulches and row covers on lettuce production.

EDUCATION:

PhD - PLANT BIOLOGY, University of California, Davis: 1995-1998

Thesis: Biochemical basis of changes in the color of strawberry fruit stored in controlled

atmospheres. Major professor: Adel A. Kader

MSc (Agric) (cum laude), University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: 1987-1989

Thesis: Low chill clonal rootstocks, pollination studies and cultivar identification in kiwifruit (Actinidia

deliciosa var deliciosa).

BSc (Agric) (cum laude), University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: 1981-1984

Major: Horticultural Science

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

About 50 papers published in scientific journals, books and trade magazines; >70 papers presented

at scientific conferences and industry meetings; four patents. Detailed list available on request.

REFERENCES: Available on request.

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