Hazel Technologies Inc., has announced what it says are successful commercial results with multiple distributors of tropical fruit. According to the company, results include up to five days longer shelf-life, reduced shrink rates of up to 50 percent, and higher sales in several tropical categories, including guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit, “green-skin” avocado, and starfruit.
Companies using Hazel Tech’s USDA-funded post-harvest product line for tropicals include Miami, FL-based WP Produce, McAllen, TX based Sweet Seasons LLC, and Los Alamitos, CA-based Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
Desiree Morales, Willy Pardo, Christopher Gonzalez and Wilson Dominguez of WP Produce Corp.
Tropical fruits are especially challenging perishable items to maintain at peak quality. When shipping fruit long distances or after cold-chain breaks, tropicals often have arrival claims, which result in lower sales and higher amounts of food waste. Hazel® is a quarter-sized biodegradable and food-safe packaging insert that is placed in the box during packing which is claimed to extend the shelf life of a variety of fresh produce items. Hazel says the new technology has been validated by researchers at universities such as UC-Davis and Cornell University.
“We’ve seen tremendous increases in the shelf life of our Desbry Tropical Avocados with Hazel’s active technology,” commented Chris Gonzalez, Vice President at WP Produce. “We’ve received great feedback from retailers who appreciate the reduced shrink the additional four to five days of shelf life offers. This technology is especially useful in protecting our Tropical Avocados on longer transit times to Canada, the West Coast and the Caribbean.”
"Working with Hazel Tech´s easy-to-use solution allows us to consistently deliver high-quality tropicals,” added Allen DeMo, Director of Procurement and Sourcing at Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
“Sweet Seasons exports a large range of tropicals over long distances, and since we started working with Hazel®, we have seen a 50% reduction in product shrink.” said Marina Bernal, Owner at Sweet Seasons Produce.
“Hazel Tech is fast and an easy-to-use solution for tropical fruit growers, packers, and retailers to maintain longer shelf life, reduce food waste, and increase category sales,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO of Hazel Technologies, Inc.
For more information:
Pat Flynn
Hazel Technologies
Ph: +1 (331) 444-8336
pat@hazeltechnologies.com
www.hazeltechnologies.com