Fresh-cut apples in Italian schools

The consumption of fresh-cut fruit has increased significantly and the apple sector, which is available all year round, is a key driver in this segment. Within the fresh-cut industry, the Italian company PND has invested in quality and has responded to the latest trends by creating the CB8. Virginia Cascella, export manager of PND, specialized in the manufacture and marketing of fruit processing machines, talks about this.

Virginia Cascella

"The CB8 automatic apple slicing and de-coring machine continues to attract worldwide interest. In fact, PND has recently installed new machines in the United States, the United Kingdom and France," she says. "It is an extremely robust and versatile machine that also meets the requirements of large companies such as McDonald's who serve fresh fruit in convenient individual packs so that the aroma, nutritional value and taste are retained until the moment of consumption. It also meets the requirements of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, which, in collaboration with the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research), has implemented the 'Fruit and Vegetables in Schools' programme. The project involves the distribution of quality fruit and vegetables (PDO, PGI and organic certified) - in this case apples with peel in 80-gram packets - to children in primary schools."

CB8

The benefits for those who choose this line are many. They include a high-quality cut, fast production, easy maintenance and sanitization, and a user-friendly interface. Most importantly, it ensures minimal operator intervention and precise, gentle processing.

"The CB8 has a production capacity of 100/120 fruits per minute and of different sizes," says the export manager, "ranging from 60 to 110 mm in diameter. The line consists of a tank where the apples are placed, followed by an automatic sorter and a system that transports the fruit to the cutting station. The apple is then sliced, and the core is removed on a special conveyor belt."

Depending on the customer's requirements, the slices obtained can then undergo an additional treatment to prevent sudden browning in a tank containing antioxidant products.

"PND is considered by its customers to be reliable in many respects: technological, innovative and after-sales. Thanks to its vast experience in the field and the expertise of its specialized staff, it offers fast and effective customer service in all latitudes," concludes Cascella.

PND will be exhibiting at the upcoming Anuga Food Tec exhibition in Cologne, Germany, 19-22 March, Hall 10.1 Stand G-061. A catalogue of machinery and the exhibition schedule can be found on the company's website.