WHERE WERE YOU BORN / RAISED
I was born in a small port in Chile named Talcahuano, then went to college in Santiago.
EDUCATION
1984-1988 Doctor of Philosophy, Tree Physiology, Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture, Corvallis, OR 97331.
1982-1983 Master of Science, Horticulture, University of California, Davis, Department of Pomology, Davis, CA 95616.
1973-1979 Ingeniero Agronomo, Catholic University of Chile. Departamento de Fruticultura e Enologia. Santiago, Chile.
1968-1973 High School, Sacred Heart Concepcion, Chile.
MILITARY SERVICE
Chilean military Service, 1972-1973 (Talcahuano, Marine).
CAREER
- 1990-Present Postharvest Specialist and Pomologist in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616.
- 2008 -2019 Director, Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616.
- 2008-2014 Associate Director of Postharvest Technology Center, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616.
- 2003–2004 Researcher, sabbatical leave at the Instituto Bioquímica e Ingeniería Molecular of Universidad Politécnica, Valencia (Spain).
- 1989-1990 Plant Physiologist at the Hawaiian Sugar Planter’s Association (HSPA), Oahu HI. Developing technologies to synchronize coffee mechanical harvesting.
- 1979-1989 Pomology Professor at Catholic University of Chile, Santiago Chile.
HOW DID YOU END UP ON THE CENTRAL COAST
Ocean call! I love activities associated to the ocean and about five years ago my wife and I were able to make the move here.
HOBBIES / INTERESTS
I enjoy hiking, playing tennis and pickleball, exercising and reading. I also love watching sports such as soccer and tennis that I understand well as I grow up playing them. I still have a long way to go to understand baseball and football. However the most important for me is interacting with family and friends.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My main professional accomplishment was to develop and establish fruit ripening protocols for consumers that are currently used widely and create the concept of consumer quality. My main personal accomplishment is staying close to my family and friends dear to me.
- Distinguished Professor at UC Davis (the highest campus-level award for faculty who demonstrate outstanding scholarship), 2021.
- UCCE-ANR 2019/2020 Outstanding Research Distinguished Service (2020).
- California Fig Award for Distinguished Service Achievement, which “recognizes distinguished service supporting development and improving marketing and utilization of dried and fresh figs products”, 2020.
- SaveMart Innovation Research Award; 2013.
- California Tree Fruit Agreement, ‘Save the Stone Fruit Award’, 2004.
- Award to Most Valuable Cooperator; Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC., México (CIAD), 2002.
- 1999 National Peach Council-Carroll R. Miller Award, to recognize noteworthy research relating to improved marketing and utilization of stone fruit: first recipient in the UC system.
FAMILY
I enjoy my wife Gayle’s company in Shell Beach, the visits of my two children Nicole and Michelle and conversations.