The Postharvest Education Foundation

06/12/2026

Sharing some good news. Thank you, Dr. Kader, for all your mentoring and support for PEF in the early years.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7LPiV82F/

ASHS Hall of Fame
Dr. Adel Kader, one of the most widely known and recognized scientists worldwide in the field of postharvest biology and technology, has been named to the ASHS Hall of Fame.

04/28/2026

🌍 Celebrating Over a Decade of Postharvest Learning & Impact 🌱

The Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF) Global E-learning Programs have been running successfully for more than 10 years, empowering 180+ graduates worldwide. Many of our top performers have gone on to win awards, grants, and scholarships, while others now serve as postharvest researchers, extension officers, consultants, and trainers.

We are proud to release the 4th Edition of the PEF Postharvest E-learning Manual (2025) - a free, open-access resource featuring 14 self-managed assignments. These cover everything from identifying causes of postharvest losses, conducting commodity systems assessments, and designing cost-effective demonstrations, to establishing Postharvest Training & Services Centers (PTSCs) and food rescue initiatives.

📖 The manual is designed for extension workers, trainers, consultants, and all those working with smallholder farmers, traders, processors, and marketers of perishable crops. Each assignment includes readings, practical activities, and self-exams, with free access to supporting materials, videos, and networking links.

✨ PEF will continue to share resources, offer mentorship, and remain a platform for networking among postharvest specialists worldwide. Together, we are building capacity, reducing food losses, and advancing sustainable food systems.

https://postharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PEF_E_Learning_Manual_2025.pdf

04/16/2026

What happens after “mission accomplished” for a 15 year old non-profit organization?

Dr. Lisa Kitinoja, Founder, The Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF) April 2026

Many food rescue and food loss/waste focused organizations have been launched since the early days when PEF announced our mission in 2011. Our original purpose was to create a charity organization to train a cadre of young professionals to take on this work, and equip them with the resources, advice and tools they needed to reduce postharvest losses in their communities. We provided postharvest training of trainers via workshops, short courses, e-learning programs, written books and manuals, and by conducting joint research, extension programs and field work in Africa and South Asia. During the covid years when travel was restricted, we provided small grants to enable postharvest trainers in Africa and South Asia to provide local training programs for farmers, traders, processors and marketers. Later we added fundraising efforts to support organizations involved in food rescue and distribution in the USA.
Success could mean that an organization shifts its focus and develops a new mission. More than a dozen board members have contributed to this success, giving their time, attention, skills and money to support PEF’s work. The PEF board of directors discussed a change of focus as a possibility, but once the founder and older board members retired, it became difficult to find enough new board members with free time and financial resources to keep PEF active and engaged.
Success for us means that The Postharvest Education Foundation has successfully completed our mission, having trained more than 150 postharvest specialists and trainers who are active in 30 countries. Success allows us to mindfully close our doors and pass along our training materials, resources and advice to the many individuals, businesses, non-profits and researchers who work to reduce food losses in the global community. The board of directors has dissolved the charity organization as of December 2025, but we will be keeping the https://postharvest.org website operational for sharing free resources and mentoring. I will remain active on LinkedIn and will continue to administer our Postharvest Training and International Consulting discussion group. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3770124/

04/01/2026

We are pleased to share the April 2026 edition of the Postharvest Education Foundation Newsletter!

March 30 marked the International Day of Zero Waste, with food waste as the central theme for 2026. From UNEP and UN-Habitat’s global campaign to regional symposiums, momentum is building across sectors. The newsletter also includes interesting review on antimicrobial resistance linked to food waste, solar-powered solutions from WorldVeg Tanzania, and collaborative initiatives such as COST’s FoodWaStop project in Europe.

We are excited to announce that the 4th edition of the PEF E-learning Manual is in its final stages, bringing updated resources and practical tools for trainers and extension specialists. Alongside this, you’ll find recent publications, opportunities for collaboration, and upcoming events shaping the future of food systems.

👉 Read the full newsletter here:https://postharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/April26_PEF-Newsletter.pdf

Check out earlier editions at: https://postharvest.org/newsletters-awards-news/

01/31/2026

We are excited to share the January 2026 edition of the Postharvest Education Foundation Newsletter! This issue is filled with inspiring updates and vital insights on global efforts to reduce food loss and waste.

2025 was a landmark year in the global fight against food loss and waste. Momentum grew through powerful networks like Champions 12.3, UNEP, and the Zero Food Waste Coalition, while groundbreaking initiatives at the grassroots level proved that real, scalable change is happening—now.

From new regulatory frameworks and cold-chain innovations to community-led programs, actions are speaking louder than words. This is the future we envisioned when PEF was founded in 2011: a world moving decisively toward food system resilience and equity.

We remain committed to accelerating this momentum. Because when we reduce loss, we nourish communities, protect resources, and build a more sustainable future—together.

👉 Read the full newsletter here:https://postharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jan26_PEF_Newsletter.pdf

Check out earlier editions at: https://postharvest.org/newsletters-awards-news/

💬 What’s inspiring you in the fight against food waste? Share below!

12/31/2025

Wish everyone a very happy Year ahead...!!

12/12/2025

More news on food giveaways in Birmingham! These events are great models for how to organize food drives and provide free foods to the needy.

Shipt and the City of Birmingham are having a Holiday Grocery Giveaway on December 13 at Kelly Ingram Park.

Register in advance to reserve a time slot for grocery pickup using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shipt-presents-the-holiday-grocery-giveaway-community-meals-tickets-1975062367709?aff=oddtdtcreator.

If registration becomes full, neighbors are still encouraged and welcomed to attend. Groceries will be distributed while supplies last, on a first-come, first-served basis.

12/02/2025

December 2 -- Giving Tuesday 2026

By Postharvest Education Foundation

11/14/2025

PEF is proud to support The Farmlink Project. https://www.farmlinkproject.org/about-us

Millions of meals are wasted daily. At Farmlink, we stop food before it goes to waste and instead deliver it to families nationwide, reducing food waste, and feeding millions. With your help, we can get fresh produce to those in need.

11/04/2025

At The Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF), we are proud to celebrate global efforts to reduce food loss and waste, and exciting activities during the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDFLW).
This month, we proudly support The BIG Giveaway in Birmingham, connecting surplus produce with families in need and uplifting local communities. Heartfelt thanks to all our donors whose contributions fuel logistics and free food distribution.
While the much-awaited 5AAPHCE has been postponed, we look forward to new dates.
This month's newsletter features interesting webinars and reports on postharvest capacity building, digital innovation, and nutrition security, all driving towards reduction of food loss and waste.

Let’s keep innovating and collaborating toward SDG 12.3 — every action counts! 💚

November 2025 Newsletter:https://postharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PEF_Newsletter_Nov25.pdf

Check out the earlier versions of the newsletter: https://postharvest.org/newsletters-awards-news/