BERLIN — Innovation was everywhere at Fruit Logistica 2025, including the latest solutions for grower-packer-shippers from BeeHero, Apeel and Clarifresh.
BeeHero, a data-driven precision pollination company, shared more on its Pollination Insight Platform, which launched last fall, and to the apple industry earlier this month.
“Science and technology are always looking to increase efficiencies of high-value crops like avocados and almonds,” said Etyan Schwartz, vice president of global strategy for BeeHero.
Using a simple sensor placed inside the hive, BeeHero monitors the temperature, humidity, acoustics, light and vibration inside the hive — collecting some 25 million data points a day on 300,000 hives, said Clayton Hiskins, region manager for Australia.
The data points are used to create an algorithm that can detect problems and changes inside the hive, such as evidence of queen failure.
There’s also a GPS component on the sensor that can deter beehive theft.
“Theft is a major issue for beekeepers,” said Hiskins, who notes hives cost between $150 and $180 a hive, and as much as $250 in California.
“There’s a real deficit of pollination in California right now,” said Hiskins.
A recent bee industry survey, as reported in Forbes, found millions of bees died this winter, causing millions in damages, threatening pollination efficacy, and ultimately global food security, says BeeHero.
Founded in 2017, BeeHero has lowered bee mortality by nearly half, or 55%, and increased efficiency by more than 30% in hives using its PIP, said Schwartz.
Apeel, a company offering high-performance plant-based postharvest solutions, launched Flare S1 for citrus during Fruit Logistica 2025. Part of its Fresh Formulaics line, which includes products designed to extend shelf life, protect by inhibiting mold and decay, and shine to enhance the appearance and quality of the fruit, Flare S1 is all about shine.
“We offer next-gen postharvest solutions,” said Denise Junqueiro. “They’re safer, smarter and more effective than conventional protective materials, which haven’t evolved in 20 years. These solutions are completely plant-based and more effective.”
With Flare S1 for citrus, grower-packer-shippers can get shelf-life extension without losing the shine on the fruit, says Junqueiro. It also helps reduce reliance on conventional fungicides, eliminates the need for heated drying and can be applied to cold, wet fruit.
“With Flair S1, growers can get more through put within their system,” she said.
Apeel says it plans to expand the solution to stone fruit, avocados and mangoes.
“The backbone of everything we do is protection,” Junqueiro added.
Clarifresh, formerly Clarifruit, featured its artificial intelligence-powered quality control management system for fresh produce.
Users of Clarifresh’s technology can understand a multitude of quality parameters using a phone app, Elad Mardix explained.
“We’re a pure-play software company helping the least efficient supply chain in the world — fresh produce — to increase profitability,” Mardix said.
Clarifresh takes numerous quality specs and digitizes them to automate quality judgement and standardize the inspection process to be objective and consistent, he says.
“There are different reasons for food waste, but the common denominator is quality mismanagement,” said Mardix. Differing quality standards, a subjective inspection process and a lack of realtime data can all contribute to food waste in the fresh produce supply chain.
Clarifresh’s partners include Dole, Zespri, Sunkist, Wish Farms and Mucci, and the company is now expanding into grocery, said Mardix.
“Our quality management system can be transformational for the supply chain, and it’s a win-win for the grower, who knows that the retailer will accept 100% of its shipment,” said Mardix. The retailer also benefits, knowing the quality of the supply in advance.
“We grew 50% last year and hope to double our revenue this year,” said Mardix.
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