Jorge Fonseca received a Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. He has a Master's degree in Horticulture, also from Clemson University, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Costa Rica and National University, San Diego, CA, and a Bachelor's degree in Plant Sciences from the University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica. While he is not currently teaching here at the University of Arizona, it is anticipated that he will be teaching a vegetable and/ or postharvest technology class to students of the Agricultural Systems Management major in the future. His research interests include all aspects of vegetable quality, including sensorial, chemical, microbial and nutritional quality. Dr. Fonseca has received several awards and recognition, including the R.C. Edwards University Endowment Research Award, 2002 and the Schilleter Teaching Endowment Award, 2002. (To view more about Dr. Fonseca's work and other awards that he has received, please see below)

My main goal is to look at the effects of pre- and postharvest variables on quality of vegetables. My programs will develop new information and alternative technologies for vegetable production, harvest, handling and fresh-cut processing. The ultimate goal is to aid the industry find economically feasible and environmentally safe practices and technologies that add value to the final product.

2006 Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship Award. Gordon Research Conferences Organization. New London, CT

2005 Selected author of the Global Assessment of Agriculture. Sponsored by seven United Nation organizations, World Bank and over 40 governments

2005 O’Brien Endowment Award. Tucson, AZ

2004 Young Scientist of the Year by the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America.

2002 R.C. Edwards Endowment-University Research Award. Clemson, South Carolina, USA.

2002 Research Award by the International Plant Propagators Society. South and Eastern Regions

2002 University Graduate Student Council Award to Present Research at annual meeting American Society of Horticultural Sciences-Southern Region.

2002 Schilleter Teaching Award for teaching work at the undergraduate level in the Department of Horticulture, Clemson University.

1999-2002 Wade Stackhouse Endowment Research Award. Clemson, SC.

2001 Appointed National Student Representative of the Institute of Food Technology,
Fruit & Vegetable Product Division.

2001 Inducted to Alpha Epsilon Lambda. National Graduate Honor Society.

2001 William C. Barnes Endowment Research Award. Clemson, South Carolina. USA.

1998-1999 South Carolina Agricultural Society Endowment Award. Charleston, SC. USA.

1999 Research Student Competition Award. In: 1999 meeting of Florida Stae Horticultural Society. Stuart, Fl.

1996 Research Award by the Instituto the Cooperación Iberoamericana for training in Spain.

1994 Training Award by the American Agency for International Development (AID) to attend training course in California, USA.

1993 Honorable Mention Research Award for “Chemical alternatives to reduce postharvest losses of mango fruits due to sapburn damage”. Faculty of Plant Science. University of Costa Rica