Before my university studies at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, I was trained as an open-air horticulturist. I finished my MSc in Horticultural Sciences in 1991 with a thesis on dormancy models for prediction of flowering in trees. I initiated my scientific career in Pomology with a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Poul Hansen. The PhD thesis 'Physiological aspects of internal competition and seasonal changes in fruit composition with special reference to black currant (Ribes nigrum)' was defended in the spring of 1995. Then I was a postdoc at the University in Bonn under Prof. . F. Lenz. The research focus was on the carbon balance of fruits. When P. Hansen retired, I returned to Copenhagen, where I took over as scientific responsible for the Pometum and research and teaching in fruit science. My research has focused on five areas: A) Carbon physiology, fruit development, and fruit quality, with an emphasis on changes in sugars, organic acids, color, and aroma. B) Flowering physiology in sour cherries. C) Fruit quality, with a focus on development and quality for use (juice and wine). D) Pomological genetic resources, preservation, and evaluation, including cryopreservation of dormant buds. E) Grape wine growing and vinification of wine. I am responsible for the courses ‘Fruit and Berry Crop Physiology and Quality’, which is thought in autumn, and ‘Cool Climate Viticulture and Enology’, in spring.