As exquisite premium products like asparagus have to arrive at the consumer in a crisp, fresh and tender state, producers must ensure there is optimal cooling. This is decisive for freshness, durability and quality. It all starts in the field, then extending from transport and storage to retail sale. MAJA nugget ice is ideally suited for these diverse tasks in asparagus cooling. "It cools the asparagus, keeping it moist and fresh so that the grower can deliver the optimum quality," said a spokeswoman for MAJA Maschinenfabrik. At the upcoming ExpoSE trade fair in Karlsruhe (21 and 22 November 2019), the company will present and demonstrate its product in detail.
Alternative for cost-intensive solutions
The application is simple and individual: there is storage of asparagus on an ice bed, sprinkling them with melting ice nuggets or it can be used for the production of ice water to enable shock cooling, extending shelf life.
Using MAJA ice means dispensing with other, more expensive cooling methods or irrigation systems. Ice also has the advantage that it constantly releases moisture to the vegetables, which is needed for keeping them fresh.
Diverse use
Many asparagus growers now swear by MAJA nugget ice. Immediately after harvesting the fresh asparagus are put in pools, filled with water and ice. The ice has a temperature of -0.5°C. Due to the granular structure, the ice nuggets have a large surface area. This promotes the exchange of energy and brings the water to the right temperature within a short time, so that asparagus' cores are at about + 1°C, even at warm ambient temperatures. This process keeps the vegetables fresh until further processing. The asparagus does not dry out in this temperature range, does not discolour and lasts longer than when conventional cooling methods are employed.
MAJA nugget ice also ensures ideal environmental conditions for transport to hypermarkets and in retail, so that there is no loss of quality on the way to the consumer.
Up to 530 kg ice power
MAJA nugget ice makers are available in different ice capacities from 170 to 970 kg/24 h. Accessories such as ice transport wagons or special storage silos make handling easier. MAJA nugget ice can be ideally produced in stock. It does not clump and remains free-flowing and can be easily dosed. In the MAJA nugget ice makers with an output up to 530 kg of ice, only environmentally friendly refrigerant R290 propane is used, which does not add to the greenhouse effect, nor does it contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
For more information:
MAJA-Maschinenfabrik - Hermann Schill GmbH
Ansprechpartner: Kathrin Massé
Management Assistant Marketing
Tel. +49 7854 184-221
E-Mail kathrin.masse@maja.de
Web: www.maja.de