Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has partnered with sensor technology startup Strella in a global exclusive distribution agreement that will launch immediately for the Northern Hemisphere’s apple and pear seasons and leverage AgroFresh’s relationships with more than 3,700 customers worldwide, according to a news release.
“We are excited to be working together with Strella to expand the reach for this innovative technology and provide our customers with the data and insights they need to help reduce food waste and maintain the quality and freshness of apples and pears as they move through the supply chain,” Clint Lewis, CEO for AgroFresh, said in the release. “Our partnership with Strella expands our comprehensive portfolio of post-harvest solutions and further supports our customers in their efforts to grow and distribute an abundant supply of sustainable fresh produce around the world.”
Strella’s proprietary sensors collect real-time perishability data on apples and pears while they are in storage, the release said, allowing customers to make data-driven inventory decisions to maintain freshness and protect the value of their produce in storage to yield a higher quality pack out with limited disruptions in supply to the market. This technology will complement AgroFresh’s FreshCloud platform, according to the news release. FreshCloud is an integrated digital platform that provides end-to-end data visibility and monitoring of produce quality at all points along the value chain and moves the quality control inspection process to the digital age, the company said.
“We are thrilled to be working together with AgroFresh,” Katherine Sizov, CEO for Strella, said in the release. “We work hard to provide the best service we can to our customers and believe that partnering with a customer-focused organization like AgroFresh will help us bring our solution to more packers across the globe. Our focus is to use technology and data to enable smarter decisions across the supply chain. Addressing inefficiencies in fruit storage is a critical step in building a more resilient future in food.”
The new agreement allows AgroFresh to build on the company’s full portfolio of integrated post-harvest products, services and digital solutions designed to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of fresh produce, according to the release.
