AgroFresh Solutions, the manufacturer of SmartFresh, an ethylene inhibitor used in the postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables, has acquired Pace International, a subsidiary of Valent BioSciences.
Pace International is a manufacturer of edible fruit coatings, fungicides, cleaners and sanitizers, sustainable storage solutions and application equipment for the fresh produce industry, according to a news release.
The company said adding Pace International will strengthen its portfolio of organic and conventional technology services and digital solutions in key fruit-growing regions in North and South America.
“Bringing together our two companies allows us to better address the complete needs of customers across a broad array of crops, markets and at every step in the fresh supply chain, ultimately helping customers produce and deliver an abundant supply of quality fresh produce, sustainably,” AgroFresh CEO Clint Lewis said in a release.
AgroFresh also said it plans to develop a strategic collaboration with Valent BioSciences to accelerate the development of products to address challenges in protecting produce freshness.
“Acquisition of the Pace business by AgroFresh will create a post-harvest solutions platform that benefits customers and the food protection industry as a whole through stronger global reach, enhanced services and additional innovation capabilities,” Valent BioSciences President and CEO Salman Mir said in a release.
