BERLIN — The three-day Fruit Logistica is soon to wrap, but not before the presentation of this year’s Innovation Award.
And the award goes to: Tatayoyo, a brand of snack-size peppers of the Mitayo variety, a new product for the premium pepper segment, according to parent company Rijk Zwaan, a Dutch vegetable breeding and seed production company headquartered in De Lier in the province of South Holland.
In presenting the award, Kai Mangelberger, project director of Fruit Logistica, and Kaasten Reh, project director events and awards for Fruitnet Media International, said they had received an estimated 70-80 submissions for the Innovation Award 2023. From these submissions, 10 were selected for award consideration.
Throughout Fruit Logistica, attendees have been invited to vote for the nominee of their choice in the innovation center just inside the north entrance to Messe Berlin.
Prior to announcing this year’s Innovation Award 2023 winner, Mangelberger and Reh named the second- and third-place winners.
In second place was Ideal Melons, a patent pending harvest indicator trait that uses a visual cue to signal readiness across the value chain, the company said. The rind changes color from fresh green to a golden straw color, at the ideal time to harvest, eliminating guesswork, according to the company.
“We are thrilled to be the winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Silver Award 2023,” Jeremie Chabanis, value chain head of Europe, Africa, and Middle East, said in a release. “It was great to see so many of our growers and customers from around the world during this event and winning is a great way to honor the scientists, researchers, and growers who are growing and improving our products every year.”
Ideal Melons also sees this as a sustainable solution, as fewer harvest passes reduce carbon footprint and offer more efficient logistics results in less waste and spoilage.
In third place was brocomole, a “fun, new way to eat broccoli” that is 54% broccoli and 43% avocado. This Easy by Bouquet product introduction also reduces food waste, according to the company.
