Post-harvest

Dr Barry teaches HRT403, Handling and Storage of Horticultural Crops during the fall semester each year. Dr Barry is also a member of the CSREES regional project:

NE1036: Postharvest Biology of Fruits.

Dr Beaudry's research activities focus on preserving the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables. Specific areas of expertise include modified atmosphere packaging, controlled-atmosphere storage, non-destructive quality assessment, flavor analysis, apple scald physiology and use of volatiles to inhibit decay. Spinoffs from research have lead to the development of a number of practical devices or methods for which patent applications have been submitted.

 Consumer and market research, marketing and business management.

Research on postharvest storage and handling of horticultural crops with special emphasis on gas exchange and modified atmosphere storage of fruit and vegetables. Received patent for "active packaging" concept based on control of oxygen levels during temperature abuse of modified-atmosphere packages. Extensive efforts towards mathematical description of modified-atmosphere systems based on data collected empirically using the package as a respirometer (HortScience, 1995, 30:25-34). Current MA packaging research includes gas exchange modeling, smart films, and control of product quality changes. Worked with ethanol biosensor as a means of detecting low oxygen injury in MA packages. Study of MCP (1-methylpropene) as a substitute for silver thiosufate as an anti-ethylene agent for use on potted flowering plants. Four time speaker at Gordon Conference on Postharvest Physiology (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998).