As produce exporters seek to navigate the turbulent waters of tariffs and trade negotiations, Fresh Formulaics says its plant-based postharvest treatments, including Flair S1, can help produce suppliers and shippers respond to market disruptions by improving quality, reducing shrink and unlocking new export opportunities.
“Tariffs create a lot of uncertainty, and there’s a tremendous amount of that in the market right now,” said Denise Junqueiro, vice president of marketing at Fresh Formulaics. “We are also seeing our customers looking for more stabilization in such an uncertain market. Our solutions can provide further stability within the system.”
Fresh Formulaics’ plant-based products are designed to give suppliers effective alternatives to traditional agricultural chemicals and help their operations reduce spoilage, extend freshness, inhibit mold and improve product appearance, Junqueiro said.
The company said the benefits of Flair S1, designed specifically for citrus, are that it can be applied to cold, wet fruit, leaving a uniform shine with no wax spots; eliminates the need for heated drying; reduces reliance on conventional fungicide; decreases reliance on pesticides; achieves higher fruit throughput; and allows for faster fruit processing fruit on the line.
Flair S1 is “an extra insurance policy” that the quality of fruit will be maintained during shipment and that it reaches its destination in optimal condition, Junqueiro said.
Currently, Fresh Formulaics’ plant-based, postharvest solutions are used for avocados (Extend) and citrus (Flair S1). The company said that while Mexican avocados remain exempt from new tariffs under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, recent trade policy changes have caused shipment delays and operational uncertainty. And citrus continues to face price volatility and changing trade conditions, prompting many produce suppliers to reassess their export strategies, Junqueiro said.
“A 10% tariff can cut down on your margins. But if you’re utilizing a product like ours, you’re getting 10% to 15% more sellable fruit,” Junqueiro said. “In the past, some suppliers would feel like, ‘You know what? I’ve already got that [loss] baked into our system. I already know what kind of shrink I’m going to get and it’s fine, because we’ve been doing it like this for years.’
“When something like [sweeping tariffs] happens, you’re trying to squeeze as much you can out of it, and 10% to 15% more fruit is something you need,” she said. “When your margins are already tight and followed by a tariff increase, every bit of sellable product counts.”
Junqueiro said U.S. tariffs have led some Latin American exporters to look to other markets in Europe and Asia. Fresh Formulaics said it is already working with growers and packers who are adapting their export strategies in light of recent trade developments. The company added that with its drop-ship model, getting started is simple, even for first-time exporters or those testing new markets.
“There’s a level of unrest globally to a certain degree right now, so across the board, our customers are having to find new ways through this,” said Junqueiro, who adds that a postharvest solution like Flair S1 creates efficiencies at a time when grower-packer-shippers are seeking stability.
“Flair S1 one actually creates a high level of efficiencies within your supply chain and operations, because it only requires one application, no drying, and it doesn’t have the same type of spotting that you see with certain waxes or coatings,” she said.
Junqueiro also said the shine on citrus is uniform and vibrant with Flair S1.
“The biggest feedback from customers has been that they’re getting the appearance that their retailers are demanding, and they’re creating a level of efficiencies and cost savings on the pack line, and for any shipper that is where the money is.”
