The new year is usually a time for hope and looking forward to the future. Instead, the loss of a dear colleague and the destructive wildfires around Los Angeles consume our thoughts.

With deep sadness, we share the passing of Dr. Anita Oberholster, Professor of Cooperative Extension in Enology in the Department of Viticulture and Enology and a longtime RMI Executive Committee Member. Anita was an exceptional colleague and mentor who shared her warmth and talent with everyone she encountered. She was a terrific communicator and researcher who excelled at applied research, which the industry valued to solve its most pressing problems. I hope you'll join me in reading about Anita's life and sharing your memories of her. The family requests donations be sent to the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Fund in Anita's memory instead of flowers.

The wildfires in LA and the loss of life and homes are devastating. Last week, the UC Davis Fire Department Brush Truck 34 joined the fight against the Eaton Fire as part of the Yolo County strike team. Read the UC Davis news article for updates on student and employee resources, collecting pet supplies, protecting bees, and ways to support Aggies and their families.  

Closer to home, the academic quarter started, and our team is preparing for a year of exciting programs. We are exploring possible topics, including AI in agriculture, wine and health, caviar and champagne, alt-protein tasting, and upcycled foods. We will pilot a new program that will feature set dates for tours of the RMI and include a tasting component. We'll keep you updated as we open registration for each event.

A fantastic team of student workers supports the RMI. They help produce our events, host honey sensory tastings, write for our blog, lead wine tastings and tours, and so much more. We are grateful for all their hard work and encourage you to visit the student worker webpage to meet them. You can read the latest RMI blog about last month's Savor: Open Kitchens by student writer Gwen Gonzalez.

I lead research projects in my lab alongside teaching for the Department of Food Science and Technology. A recent study published in Nature Food revealed that states struggle to curb food waste despite policies in place. Sarah Kakadellis, a postdoctoral researcher in my lab, is the first author, alongside Selina Mao and Asch Harwood of ReFED. I'm very proud of their work and hope our study will encourage action to reduce food loss and waste. You can read a summary of the research on the RMI blog.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and I wish you and your family a safe and fulfilling new year.

Sincerely,

Ned Spang
Director, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology

View the entire January 2025 newsletter.