Controlled environment agriculture producer Windset Farms is launching a retail pilot of tomatoes-on-the-vine from Mexico that use post-harvest shelf-life extension technology, HarvestHold Fresh. The pilot is in partnership with Verdant Technologies and will run in select retailers in the U.S., with plans to expand to additional locations.
If successful, this shelf-life extension technology could mean less food waste and improved produce quality for highly perishable products such as peaches, broccoli, tomatoes and avocados.
“HarvestHold Fresh is another avenue to explore that addresses the shelf life of fresh produce,” Jeff Madu, vice president of sales at Windset Farms said in a news release. “The decision to move forward with this initiative aligns with our commitment to continuously look for ways to improve the customer experience through innovation and sustainability practices. We are very pleased to partner with Verdant for this retail pilot.”
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This new HarvestHold technology is a recyclable sheet that contains a synthetic plant growth regulator. The sheet is placed into packaging as fruits and vegetables are harvested. The sheet is activated by naturally occurring plant respiration and humidity and slows the ripening process through growth regulator,1-MCP while the products are shipped and merchandised in produce aisles. This technology has received approvals in 49 states, with California registration still pending, according to a news release.
In a previous trial with HarvestHold Fresh, Windset Farms tomatoes were treated and shipped from Central Mexico to British Columbia, Canada. At the end of the 22-day trial, results showed significant benefits in firmness, reduction in decay, improved visual appearance, and longer shelf life, according to the release.
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“We’re very excited about what we’ve seen in previous trials with Windset Farms, and we’re happy to be moving forward to bring the benefits of HarvestHold Fresh to Windset’s customers and end consumers,” Paul Oklesh, sales director at Verdant Technologies said in the release. “Windset Farms is an ideal partner for us because they’re clearly an innovator in the industry. They see demand is changing, they’re on the forefront of embracing technology, and they’re proactive about addressing the challenges of tomorrow.”
