Packaging inserts help increase shelf life of produce
With the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates showing more than 25 billion pounds of post-harvest fruits and vegetables wasted domestically each year, worth some $30 billion in value, they hope the technology can help shrink this number.
Ethylene is a natural plant-ripening hormone. Inhibiting its production keeps produce looking and tasting better for a couple of weeks versus a couple of days. The active ingredient in Hazel Technologies’ FruitBrites packets is more specifically 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), which mimics the effects of ethylene but blocks ethylene receptors in produce. This molecule has been used commercially to keep food and flowers fresh in the past, including by companies like AgroFresh and FloraLife.
The packaging is also biodegradable and non-toxic and allow farmers to extend the sale-ability of their fruits and vegetables without having to spray on any chemical solutions, Mouat said.
source: techcrunch.com
