Back to Reality
Good morning. I must admit that I am SO happy to be home. 
Just knowing the Husband and doggies are in the same building makes me happy. It’s so corny, but I feel like a part of me is missing when I’m away from my family. True love.
I am still quite sick, unfortunately. It’s a pretty bad sinus/upper respiratory infection. I had to call out of class tonight, even though we have a Anatomy test, because my community college has a zero-tolerance policy about showing up with a respiratory infection. I don’t think it’s the swine flu H1N1, but its better to be safe than spread your germies around.
For breakfast, I had a bowl of banana oatmeal:
My oatmeal contained:
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 sliced banana
- Toppings: flax, brown sugar, and blueberries
At least I haven’t lost my appetite. 
Last Day at POM Wonderful Recap
Yesterday was our last day of the POM Wonderful tour. I spent the entire morning at the plant and drove straight to the airport, so I didn’t have a chance to blog. Here’s the recap of our excursion!
We toured the POM Wonderful offices, fruit packaging plant, juicing plant, and bottling plant. It was a really interesting learning experience for me because I love learning how food/products is produced and packaged (nerd alert). I have also been on tours of:
- Several large-scale commercial breweries
- An Audi factory
- A Boeing factory
But I think the POM Wonderful tour was the most interesting one!
We donned sweet hardhats and hair nets before touring:
First, we toured the area where the fresh fruit is brought in from that day’s harvest. POM fruit is only harvested for 15 weeks out of the year. They are stored in these large containers until they head to the sorting area. The plant moves FAST – the fruit rarely waits more than a day or two.
The fruit is loaded on a large conveyer belt, on which it travels inside the plant:
After entering the plant, each fruit passes under a $1 million machine that takes TWENTY PHOTOGRAPHS of EACH piece of fruit. In the blink of a camera lens, a computer quickly analyzes the fruit for factors such as color, scarring, and size; sorts the fruit; and sends it down this belt:
The computer “knows” which fruit to POP off the conveyor belt into one of three chutes. The chutes determine the fruits destiny as whole fruit, juice, or another POM Wonderful product.
The cameras can sort 350 fruits a MINUTE. How crazy is that? That’s 7,000 photographs of fruit in just one minute.
The fruits that are destined to be sold as whole fruit are the washed, coated with a light fungicide to prevent the spread of disease or bugs, and shined with a minimal wax. Then the fruits are packaged for retail sale.
The POM Wonderful plant also has a non-computerized, traditional sorting facility. About 200 workers sort each fruit by hand in this building.
If the fruits are destined to become POM Wonderful juice, they are transported to the juicing room. We also toured this area and the bottling area, but cameras aren’t allowed in those rooms.
Leftover POM fruit shells and other materials are sold to cattle farmers, who mix the fruit into the feed.
How to Cut Open a Pomegranate
Here’s the official POM Wonderful technique for opening a POM fruit:
Good to know, because I have about 4 fruits in my suitcase and I want to eat them ASAP! Maybe all the antioxidants will make my sickness go away?
All in all, it was an excellent trip! Thank you, POM Wonderful!
Have a good morning! See you in the afternoon.
Posted by: Caitlin 56 comments
Posted in: POM Wonderful Harvest Tour
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
That is so awesome! you must have had a WONDERFUL time! Thanks for sharing all your experiences!!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
That whole process is so interesting. So sorry you are feeling bad! Hope you get to feeling better soon.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:47 am
what a great time! i love learning how things are made too- automation fascinates me. thank you SO MUCH for the lesson on how to open and de-see a pomegranate. i was diong it completely wrong and making a huge mess!!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
Wow how cool!! I had no idea they could do computerized sorting like that. Computers really are amazing. It blows my mind. I want some pomegranates now!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Oh no, I hope you feel better! I need to try a pomegranate too – they’re on sale around here and now that I have instructions on how to chop this sucker open I think I just might do it
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Love the pom lesson
Good to know so I don’t keep staining my shirts while trying to seed them.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
The plant sounds cool, and I love that they give the unused parts to local farms.
I hope you feel better!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
Girl! You look gorgeous when you’re sick!! Hope you feel better fast. That oatmeal def looks like it has healing powers
. The plant tour looks like a lot of fun. Glad you’re back with those you love
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
That factory tour looks awesome! Feel better soon
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Oh no! I hope you feel better soon. I’m glad you are responsible and that your school has that policy. We’re really starting to crack down here at work too.
That oatmeal looks yummy. Glad you enjoyed your trip to CA too
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
The entire process is amazing. Only 15 weeks? Wow.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
sorry you are still sick but so happy you are home! I know the feeling, trust me!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
I’m sorry you’re feeling sicky
Feel better!!
Thanks for that tutorial – I’ve always been cutting open a Pomegranate a different way!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
garlic. tons of garlic.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Thanks Caitlin, now I know how to cut and eat a POM.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Glad you’re back safe and sound! Looks like an awesome trip.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
The sorting machines are amazing. I’ve always wondered how they’re able to do that. What happens to the unused poms?
[Reply]
Caitlin Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 am
well, i dont think any really are unused. they are either sold as fruit, juiced, or used to extract the antioxidants called POMx, which they add to POM tea or coffee.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
It is so nice to see exactly where a product comes from, thank you for all the pictures. I plan to buy some POM this weekend. =)
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Thanks for the tips on how to easily get the arils out. Hope you feel better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the demo! I almost picked up a box of poms at Sam’s last night (from POM Wonderful!) but didn’t because Iw asn’t sure how to eat them, haha.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Feel better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hope you feel better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
Thanks so much for posting how to cut a pomegranate! I just bought one at the store yesterday and had no clue what to do with it
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am
I feel like part of me is missing when I’m away from my family too (aka boyfriend and dog, cat)
Glad you are back home, but sorry you are sick! Get better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
I’m sure you’ve mentioned it before, but what kind of oatmeal do you eat? I love oatmeal, but the kind I’ve been eating has too much sugar in it. I’d rather add bananas, etc like you do to give it extra flavor.
(http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/)
[Reply]
Caitlin Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Just plain oatmeal from quaker. the pre-made kinds have all sorts of weird ingredients, and any sugar in the 100% oatmeal is naturally-occurring and not bad for you. I get the 5 minute-cook (not instant) kind.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
the factory pics are so cool to see! who would have thought that each fruit gets photographed like a celebrity??
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
That was so interesting! It not only amazes me how these plant operations work, but, I’m always intrigued by the inventors of these machines that the factories use! How do they think of that??!!
Thanks for the tutorial on cutting a pomegranate. I’ve always stunk at doing that.
Feel better soon
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Sorry you are still feeling sick! I agree it is much better to not spread the germs around…it was a pet peeve of mine when ppl were coughing or sniffling next to me at work or class, lol.
I never would have guessed that they take pictures of the fruit!!! So cool.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
thanks for the post on how to cut a pomegranate. they’ve always intimidated me. hope you feel better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
That’s one yummy breakfast right there.
And that’s super interesting about the computer that takes photos of the fruit. Had no idea that even existed. 7000 photos in one minute ahah wow.
I’m glad you had a good time. And I hope you feel better now.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Pomegranates are so pretty.
I just had to say that.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
I hope you feel better!!! Being sick stinks! At least you now have the pups to cuddle with, cuddling with Oscar always makes me feel better!!!
Thanks for the instructions for the pomegranate, I never did it like that, I bet it will be less messy!!!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling under the weather! I loved pomegranates as a kid, but my mom rarely let me buy them, because she always said they would give me a cold. Apparently that’s a common superstition in her native country, where pomegranates are widely cultivated.
I don’t know if that’s what happened to you, though, haha. If anything, the pomegranates will make you better
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I like the pictoral step-by-step giude on how to cut a pom. No matter how many times I read how to cut them, I just never get it. I’m such a visual learner.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
That factory is really cool – I love the sorting process with cameras.
I can’t wait to go buy a pomegranate and try out that cutting technique.
Feel better!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I loved the POM tour. That is so neat learning about the whole process. I think that I am going to have to buy a pomengranate this weekend! I want to see if I can cut it like shown in your pcitures!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
What a neat tour.. feel better!!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Yay, I’m cutting the pomegranate correctly. I think this is the first time I’ve ever cut a fruit/veggie the way I’m supposed to. I normally prefer to think of my knife skills as “creative.”
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Lovin the step-by-step photos of cutting open a Pom! I have two that I haven’t eaten yet out of sheer fear of how to open them without staining the entire kitchen of the home I am looking after for the week! Thanks Catlin for always sharing such great things!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Thanks for the tutorial, I have never learned how to cut open a pomegranate before. Hope you feel better, I just got my flu shot today
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Sorry to hear you are sick. Hope you feel better soon.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Looks like a blast. I love tours of how stuff is made and I even watch them on TV. I’m with ya girl.
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
what a great time you had at POM! hope you feel better soon
jenna
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Sad to hear you are sick, but your trip looked amazing! My husband picked up a POM last night and now I know the “correct” way to eat it!
Healthy Eating
Tasha
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Psst…I work in radio and we still call it “swine flu” in our newscasts. Screw being politically correct
Thanks for the cutting tutorial! You have no idea how much hardship you just saved me!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
So cool to see how that is made.
Get to feeling better soon!
[Reply]
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
what a super cool tour! i wanna go… i’m jealous!!
[Reply]
on Oct 23rd, 2009 at 7:02 am
Thanks for posting the instructions on how to properly cut a pomegranate. Now I’ll no longer have shirts that look like they’re spackled in blood. (Things get messy when I deal with Beets and Pomegranates)
[Reply]
on Oct 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
[...] are new to opening pomegranates I highly suggest following Caitlin’s helpful directions on how to open one without getting it all over your shirt. Which is exactly what happened to me! Bright red Pom squirts all over my white and light blue [...]
on Dec 1st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
[...] by all the POM love seen around the blogworld, I used Caitlin’s guide to opening a pomegranate, and have been enjoying the arils ever since. Yum – they add such a [...]
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
[...] got some very helpful instructions from Caitlin and set to [...]
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
[...] of Healthy Tipping Point: “I love learning how food/products is produced and packaged … I have also been on tours of [...]
on Dec 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
[...] Pomegranate! Used one of Caitlin’s posts to help me open it up. [...]
on Jan 6th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
[...] instructions on how to peel/eat/disfigure (ha) a pomegranate, check out this post on Caitlin’s [...]