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History

All perishable crops including fruits, vegetables and flowers can die prematurely if they are not managed properly, both before and after harvest. Of special importance is how perishables are handled after harvest, during the aptly named "postharvest" or "postproduction" period.

Research has documented that approximately15 to 50% of floral crops are ruined before being enjoyed by consumers due to improper postharvest care and handling. The floral crops in question include, cut flowers, bedding plants, cut foliage, potted flowering plants and foliage plants. Examples of improper postharvest treatments include poor temperature and/or humidity management, inadequate aeration, rough handling, improper packaging, transportation delays, ethylene exposures, and excessive storage time. In addition, unsuitable irrigation and/or fertilization practices are examples of how production factors can also reduce the postharvest quality and life of floral crops.

To address these postharvest issues and with the support of Ohio State University (OSU) and the financial assistance of the Ohio Florists' Association (OFA), OSU Professors George Staby, Jerry Robertson and D. C. Kiplinger started an educational program called Chain of Life™ in 1976. The main thrust of this program was to educate floral industry members on the proper postharvest care and handling of floral crops including cut flowers, bedding plants, and potted plants.

Because of its rapid rise in popularity and national scope, the Society of American Florists (SAF) requested and was given permission to administer the program in 1978. While the program was very active under SAF leadership, due to unforeseen circumstances the program stated to languish in the mid 1980s and nearly disappeared.

In 2002, George Staby, now President of Perishables Research Organization (PRO), started the Chain of Life Network® website. The goals of this website and associated programs such as in-depth workshops called PRO Institutes are essentially the same as the original Chain of Life™ program, namely, to promote the proper postharvest care of floral crops. Benefits of implementing the recommendations presented include higher quality crops and greater consumer satisfaction, while growers, wholesalers, and retailers can realize less shrinkage and higher profits.

As of January 2011, the Chain of Life Network® website had over 9000 members from 100 plus countries, of which about 5400 receive periodic e-mail updates on floral crop postharvest and marketing subjects. Weekly website visits average nearly 3000 and there are about 4800 pages viewed, 11000 hits, and 85000 KB of material downloaded. The following lists some additional characteristics of the website at this time.

• Floral crop species described = 450
• Floral related associations listed = 373
• Floral companies listed selling postharvest related products/services = 1288
• Floral related publication links listed = 157
• Postharvest / marketing database references abstracted = 18702
• Floriculture related schools listed = 494
• Latest News (frequently asked questions and answers) presented = 346

Having reached retirement age, PRO's George and Kathleen Staby want the Chain of Life Network® website, PRO Institutes, and the postharvest and marketing database to continue for the benefit of the floral industry. In this regard, an agreement has been reached whereby OSU Associate Professor Michelle Jones, working with the Postproduction Alliance, has taken a leadership role in ensuring that these programs continue and the database is constantly updated. Initially, PRO and OSU are working together to update, expand, and improve the website, as evident by the new look on the opening page and elsewhere, gradually transitioning its control from PRO to OSU. Similar transitions of the database and PRO Institutes will follow.

With the addition of OSU's Michelle Jones and her Postproduction Alliance team, the Chain of Life Network® will continue to provide information and services to address and solve floral postharvest related problems but with renewed vigor. Proceeds to pay expenses associated with maintaining the website, database, and associated activities will come mainly from Contributors who are willing to invest $365 per year, which is less than the cost of one cup of coffee per day. In return, Contributors will be recognized in the website. Please contact George Staby (george.staby@volcano.net) or Michelle Jones (jones.1968@osu.edu) if you or your company is interested in becoming a Contributor or have any questions and/or suggestions.