Brandon Chavez

Quality Assurance Lab

• Emergence

Prepared substrates using formulas for planting crops, Paper towel substrate, Blotters, Pleated paper and Peat moss.

Planted on heavy weight towels 50 seeds per replicate Watermelon, Melon, Cucumber, and Watermelon rootstock. Planted on Blue blotters with 100 seeds per replicate Lettuce, and Tomatoes. Planted on Pleated paper 100 seeds per replicate Spinach. Planted on regular weight towels Onion and Pepper 100 seeds per replicate and Carrots 50 seeds per replicate, all based on the planting protocol requirements per crops.

Performed Evaluations on Watermelon, Cucumber, Melon, Onion, and Carrots looking at the plants characteristics and health based on the OSA rules.

Entered Data results for Evaluations into Nautilus program authorizing or sending for retest depending on in or out of tolerance range results with notes as needed.

Performed Purity separations on Watermelon, Melon, Cucumber based on OSA rules entering purity weight, noxious weight, inert, weeds and other crops into Nautilus with test notes as needed.

Divided samples based on weight requirements and procedure for Purity testing.

Performed a 6's project via powerpoint on organizing towel preparation station with pictures and list of where every item is located.

Completed weekly KPI on safety issues reported for previous week in the lab.

• Varietal Purity

Performed testing on sibs (VPSB) seed collections in test tubes for Watermelon, melon, Cucumber, onion, and tomato, based on testing protocols for specific crop.

Collected Treated type tissue (VPTT) of Carrot, Onion, and Watermelon inside a specific number of test tubes for testing based on crop protocols.

Performed Ploidy (VPPL) testing for watermelon on tissue and seed based upon request, Two full plates per aliquot But one full plate allowed upon requests.

Performed VPMA full plate collections of tissue on Spinach, Watermelon, Onion, Cucumber, Tomato, Lettuce and Carrots into test tubes.

Planted into 128 cell trays with soil, Watermelon, Melon, Cucumber, Tomato, and carrot covered also with soil. Spinach and lettuce planted into 128 cell trays but covered with Vermiculite. Also planted onion but into a 200 cell tray and covered with soil.

All planting into trays are taken into there designated greenhouse for growth and ready for collections.

Prepared paperwork, samples, packaged and brought over to shipping to be processed and shipped out.

Worked in MS Labs plate generator to generate plates based on worklists, aliquot's, tissue type, number of samples being tested for collections. This is used as a guide for the technician and is shipped out to the testing lab for the machine to calculate what number each cell is that the tissues data is being collected on for results.

• Vitality

Prepared worklists for the day using Nautilus to check scheduled work. Printing off worklist and using RFGen to scan aliquots to worklists to print off labels for planting.

Collected samples stored using Nautilus to locate locations of aliquots and retriving them from the chambers located in.

Operated Coir machine for preperation of coco fiber calculating the weight of each block of coir and multipling it by the equation for the amount of water/fertilizer needing to be added into coir machine for mixing based on number of crops being planted for the day. After mixing is completed operating the tray filler and filled up trays needed for planting, Melon and Cucumber use coco fiber for covering as well so addition trays need to be calculated for covering. Lettuce uses Vermiculite so no addition core is needed to cover.

Operated the watering converior and dibbler once trays are filled. Setting the water that is computer measured to its protolcol amount. Lettuce raw 250 ml, lettuce pelleted 500ml, and melon/ cucumber 750 ml of water.

Performed planting on Melon, Cucumber, and Lettuce for vitality testing based on planting protocols.

Loaded planted crops onto carts and put into correct chambers based on temperature and humity of crops protocals.

Performed evaluations on Melon, Cucumber, Lettuce based on OSA rules and protocals adding test notes as needed. Entering data into Natilus and authorizing if in spec, and sending for retest if not in spec.

Created Work instructions for Vitality procceses for training using a Excell template, Step by Step using pictures on key parts for a visual refreance. Also puting icons for importance, safety, and PPE.

Applied improvment Ideas to the labs that would help improve efficency, safety, and quality of testing.

• Checked temperatures of cooked product and adjusted controls as needed.
• Adjusted settings on machines as required throughout the cooking process.
• Cleaned work area and ensured that all safety protocols were followed at all times.
• Set up, operated, and maintained cooking machinery such as steam kettles, fryers, ovens, pressure cookers.
• Disposed of waste properly according to established guidelines in a timely manner.
• Prepared and built food items according to standardized recipes and directions.
• Broke down, cleaned and sanitized work stations at end of shift.
• Properly stored food by adhering to food safety policies and procedures.
• Organized, sanitized and maintained equipment and utensils.
• Removed cooked products and packed in containers.