Softripe System cuts avocado waste and boosts shelf life

In Spalding, UK, Worldwide Fruit has revolutionized its avocado ripening process using the Softripe system by JD Cooling, featuring Grundfos pumps at its core. The company previously faced challenges with inconsistent ripening and short shelf life. The new system has improved control, efficiency, and consistency, ripening avocados 40% faster and reducing energy consumption by 30%. Waste has dropped by 7%, and shelf life has extended from three to four days to five to seven days.© Softripe

Avocados are ripened post-harvest during transport from the southern hemisphere, but conventional systems often yield uneven results. "Historically, consumers would buy four avocados, and only one would be ripe," explained JD Cooling's James Tumber. Traditional methods rely on manual checks and frequent door openings, which stress the fruit and result in spoilage. Cutting into fruit to test ripeness caused Worldwide Fruit to lose around 3.6% of its avocados, contributing to a significant volume of waste across Europe.

The Softripe system replaces guesswork with precision. Once avocados are placed into an airtight chamber, the system controls temperature and gas composition using an algorithm based on fruit origin and quantity. There is no human intervention until the fruit is confirmed ripe. "We're listening to the fruit," said Tumber. "We're giving it what it needs, when it needs it."

Ripening Manager Ilona Stylinska noted that the fruit is left undisturbed for days, improving quality and reducing waste. The computer monitors the fruit's respiration to identify optimal ripeness, resulting in fewer damaged fruits and better consistency. Mark Everett, Avocado Business Unit Director at Worldwide Fruit, emphasized that the system delivers ripeness reliably, with improved results for both retailers and consumers.

Grundfos pumps are integral to the system, circulating hot and cold glycol with high efficiency. The pumps' temperature-compensated pressure control maximizes energy savings, while their reliability supports seamless operation. "There was no doubt in our mind who we wanted to work with," said JD Cooling founder John Dye, praising Grundfos for their expertise and partnership.

After three years of operation, the Softripe system has significantly improved efficiency, sustainability, and product quality. Worldwide Fruit's ordering, packing, and delivery processes have transformed. "It changed everything," said Stylinska. "And it's just getting better," Dye noted the potential for similar success with bananas, whose consumption in Europe is ten times higher, suggesting widespread impact from this technology.

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