UC PRESIDENT TO VISIT SALINAS AND SANTA CRUZ JULY 1

University of California President Robert C. Dynes is visiting the Salinas and Santa Cruz regions July 1.

Since assuming office in late 2003, Dynes has been visiting rural and urban areas throughout California to get a firsthand look at UC's contributions and impact on communities. During the visit to Salinas and Santa Cruz, Dynes will meet with local UC alumni; sit in on summer classes with high school students interested in careers as scientists, engineers and mathematicians; tour agricultural and marine projects; and meet with local agribusiness leaders who rely on UC research and farm advisers.

Media are invited to participate in the following events on July 1 in the Salinas and Santa Cruz areas:

8 -- 8:45 a.m. -- UC research and area lettuce harvest (Call 925.998-5499 for field location in Salinas)

Meet Salinas grower Ron Yokota and observe lettuce harvest and field packing. UC farm advisers will discuss new management practices developed for locally grown lettuce crops.

10 -10:20 a.m. -- UC and product quality (NewStar Fresh Foods -- 900 Work St., Salinas)

Visit NewStar Fresh Foods packing plant. Meet with NewStar executives to discuss collaboration with UC on quality issues. UC plant pathologist and post-harvest specialist to describe disease control projects and discuss effect of storage temperatures and package atmospheres on quality.

10:30 -- 10:45 a.m. -- Biosecurity and food safety (NewStar Fresh Foods -- 900 Work St., Salinas)

NewStar executives demonstrate radio frequency identification technology they and UC are testing for tracking produce.

11:15 -- 1:30 p.m. -- Visit California State Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS) (UC Santa Cruz)

Dynes participates in classes and has lunch with students, faculty and staff of the COSMOS program. Every summer, COSMOS hosts high school students from every California county for an intensive program in math and science taught by UC scientists and engineers, in collaboration with teachers and business leaders.

For more information or to participate in any of the events, please contact Abby Lunardini for details and directions.

For more information on President Dynes and UC, visit:

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/

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