Interko, a manufacturer of ripening solutions for the global fresh fruit industry, is planning to expand its presence on the North American market on the back of growing business in the USA.
The Dutch company hopes to bring the benefits of its technology to retailers, importers, distributors or wholesalers ripening bananas, tropicals and other fruits in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
In addition, Interko is actively seeking reliable installation partners in Canada and Mexico to join its network of preferred installers.
To spread the message, Interko will exhibit on Booth 6043 together with its USA-based turnkey solution provider Advanced Ripening Technologies (ART) at this week’s PMA Fresh Summit on 19-21 October in New Orleans.
“Europe is a step ahead of the curve when it comes to fresh fruit ripening insight and technology at the moment,” explains Interko's Managing Director/Partner Chris Maat, who will be present at the trade show.
“There have been numerous developments on the European market that we believe will be beneficial to the way companies large or small manage their ripening processes in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
“As a ripening specialist and service-orientated company, Interko has much to offer North America in the way of modern, sophisticated and efficient solutions.”
North American developments
Advanced Ripening Technologies is Interko's long-standing partner in the USA, and, together, the duo are busy rolling out new projects with major fresh produce organisations.
As well as expanding its USA footprint, Interko sees clear potential to improve the fruit ripening facilities used by both the domestic and export trades in Mexico and Canada.
“Mexico is a huge consumer market of 150 million people, plus it’s a supply nation with a strong focus on exports,” points out Chris.
“We see opportunities in Mexico to upgrade the ripening technology currently used for avocados and exotics in particular.
“To realise this potential, Interko is looking for long-term partnerships with professional installers in Mexico and Canada too,” Chris adds.
Interko's product range
Currently, Interko offers two types of ripening rooms; the ULTIMO for bananas, and the AXESSO for the precision ripening of smaller volumes of mangoes, avocados, stonefruit and even pears.
The ULTIMO room is designed to efficiently and evenly ripen large volumes of bananas, while the AXESSO is unique in its random access capability which offers the flexibility to shift between ripening different fruits to their individual ready-to-eat stage.
Both rooms can be fitted with Interko’s REVERSO reversible fans, which the company claims deliver cost savings as they consume less than 100 watts of electricity per pallet at full airflow.
For more information:
Chris Maat
Interko
Tel: +31 (0)79 593 2581