Indianapolis Fruit, a foodservice and retail wholesale distributor, has deployed Verdant Technologies’ HarvestHold Fresh to boost shelf life of its broccoli.
Indianapolis Fruit works with growers Ippolito International and Dole Fresh Vegetables to use this technology in its broccoli shipments. HarvestHold Fresh uses a humidity-activated delivery system to gradually release 1-methylcyclopropene that slows the aging process while preserving the natural ripening rhythm of produce in an iceless solution, according to a news release.
Tony Mitchell, president of Indianapolis Fruit, said he saw a need for HarvestHold Fresh from a food safety and quality standpoint. He wanted to move away from ice and water in coolers and the potential for slips and falls.
Indianapolis Fruit conducted a two-month test with its growers and retailers. Mitchell said the team at Indianapolis Fruit didn’t tell retail partners about the test but tracked produce quality from intake date to see the shelf life of broccoli using ice and broccoli using HarvestHold Fresh.
“We see better shelf life on the iceless Verdant Technology,” he said. “The quality is the broccoli stays greener longer and it’s more vibrant and crisp.”
Mitchell said the team at Indianapolis Fruit also sought feedback from retailers on product quality and shelf life, too, to track its impact.
“From a retail standpoint, they don’t want all that water standing in their coolers either and they want the freshest product that holds the longest,” Mitchell said.
Harlan Ewert, director of sales at Verdant Technologies, said what makes the partnership with Indianapolis Fruit unique is the company isn’t deploying HarvestHold on a full truckload of broccoli to reduce the cost of freight, but rather to remove the water that comes from the melting ice in its warehouse. Ewert said it’s a misconception that ice is the only option to ensure maximum freshness of broccoli.
“There can be a long held belief that ice equals quality and that removing the ice will affect the quality and the condition of the property,” he said. “That’s a hurdle that we have to overcome all the time.”
Ewert said beyond a food safety move, there’s the residual effect of reducing emissions with less freight, and with increased quality, there’s less waste.
“There’s sustainability stories to be told all throughout the supply chain as you’ve introduced to HarvestHold to removing ice from broccoli,” he said.
Mitchell said growers also see Verdant Technology’s iceless solution as a food safety benefit, as ice melting can harbor contaminants and a reduction in the overall weight of the broccoli crown boxes.
