Thanks to advanced technology, farmers can now extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables, allowing for longer shipping distances and better quality produce. Around the world, shelf-life extension technologies for fresh produce are helping everyone, from farmers to consumers.
Produce life extension startup Hazel Technologies are at the forefront of futuristic technology shaping the future of fresh produce preservation.
Their groundbreaking product, Hazel 100, a small sachet containing the active ingredient 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene) extends the shelf life of fresh produce by up to 40%.
Extending freshness of fruits and veggies
This compound plays a crucial role in delaying the ageing process of fruits and vegetables by inhibiting the effects of ethylene, a natural gas that accelerates ripening and senescence.
According to Tommy Caruana, director of business development for retail at Hazel Technologies, the ease of use and the impressive results of Hazel 100 create a win-win situation for retailers and customers.
“It’s a must-have for postharvest crop management strategies. For retailers, this translates into increased sales and customer satisfaction. With Hazel 100, customers are more likely to choose and purchase produce, confident that it will stay fresh for an extended period at home,” he explains.
The sachet can be used on all kinds of fruits and vegetables, from apricots to cherries, potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes, limes, papaya, kiwifruit and more.
How it works
The application is straightforward. One only needs to place the sachet in a box or bin of produce. Once deployed, Hazel 100 releases 1-MCP gradually, creating an atmospheric shield around the produce.
This shield binds to the ethylene receptors in the fruits and vegetables, significantly slowing down their aging process and maintaining their freshness for a longer period.
Aline Perales, Hazel Technologies’ commercial business development manager, said their product has shown to help growers have more marketable fruit. “Hazel 100 sachets can be a good tool, especially to use on premium quality grapes to have better arrivals and thus premium returns,” he said.
A display stand that extends shelf life
While Hazel Technologies focuses on the simplicity and effectiveness of 1-MCP, another remarkable innovation has emerged from Macfrut, “Mago,” the Italian branch of a Polish multinational.
They have developed a display stand that naturally extends the shelf life of fruit by a third directly at the point of sale.
This innovative stand features a series of slots along its metal frame that absorb ethylene, the same aging-accelerating gas targeted by Hazel 100. Additionally, it purifies the air by absorbing bacteria and spores, releasing filtered air that helps maintain the freshness of the produce.
Cristian Ciani, the inventor, explains, “This display stand absorbs ethylene through a series of slots along the metal profile of the frame. It purifies the air as it also absorbs bacteria and spores, releasing filtered – and thus purified – air.”
Macfrut’s has been successfully tested on high ethylene-emitting fruits like bananas, pineapples, apples, pears, avocados, kiwifruits, and melons
The stand is said to not only improve shelf life but also maintain the aesthetic quality of the fruit.
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