Imagine you’re shipping a 40-pound box of broccoli, of which, 20 pounds of it is ice and another 20 pounds of it is the broccoli itself. Wouldn’t it be more efficient if you were able to ship more broccoli and reduce the ice?
That’s exactly what Verdant Technologies is hoping to solve with its HarvestHold product, a 1-methylcyclopropene-based postharvest solution that extends the usable product life of fruits, vegetables and flowers by an average of 40-50%. HarvestHold is
Matthew Aronson, chief revenue officer of Verdant Technologies, joined the “Tip of the Iceberg” podcast to discuss the move away from ice in shipping fresh produce and the residual effects it can have.
Aronson said that HarvestHold’s use extends far beyond fresh broccoli into other fresh produce, and floral, commodities.
One thing he said many broccoli growers and shippers will see is freight savings. When a 40-pound box of broccoli is filled with 40 pounds of broccoli and not just half, it cuts down on the number of boxes and also reduces the weight.
“You’re paying to ship water and ice thousands of miles,” he said. “If you go from a full truckload with ice and broccoli — about, 1,000 cases — you take that ice out, you can now fill up that truck, so you go from about 1,000 cases to 1,500, and you pick up another 400 or 500 cases in the same truck that you’re paying for.”
Aronson said Verdant Technologies’ HarvestHold is an easy product to apply in the field as workers harvest the crop, which means workers also don’t have to handle ice when harvesting.
“It just really integrates very seamlessly with their operation,” he said.
Aronson said there’s a great sustainability story, too, with reduced carbon footprint and water use.
There’s also the added benefit of eliminating a potential contaminant as the ice melts and the potential for slips and falls, which is a major selling point for retailers.
“The average payout for a slip falls instant in the U.S. is about $50K,” he said. “When you zoom out a little bit, 60% of all grocery retail claims are from slips and falls. And what does that mean from a dollar standpoint? On an annual basis retailers are spending upward of $450 million a year to defend slips and falls.”
