HPP to reduce waste, boost exports from WA

A new $1.2 million ‘High Pressure Processing’, or HPP, machine in Western Australia is aimed at reducing food waste, improving the return on investment for growers and opening up export markets to the region’s growers. HPP technology provides a method of cold pasteurizing fresh produce, making it safe for export without losing any of its nutritional value, according to Jennie Franceschi, Marketing Director of Advance Packing and Marketing Services. “As a packer, exporter and marketer we have limited markets to fresh so to access international markets closed to fresh we are diversifying into a processed product. We can now access markets using IQF, or Individual Quick Frozen, or HPP that were previously closed to us because of issues with medfly or fruitfly (in Queensland). This technology is here for people to use,” she says. “Cold pasteurization kills pathogens and food becomes safer and has an extended shelf life with this treatment.” Food treated with HPP is pressurized the same amount as it would be 60 metres under the sea. It can also be cryogenically sealed.

The avocado industry is one that will be quick to take advantage of HPP. As an avocado industry representative, Ms Franceschi says the crop in her sheds will grow from 1.4 million trays’ worth to six million plus within six years, and a plan needs to be in place to manage the increased supply. “The supermarkets have also changed their attitude and made a commitment to our category. That’s helped drive the category and made a difference in viability, which has encouraged people to invest,” she says. 

Research and development within the industry has been focused on becoming better and more efficient at producing food, with little regard for utilizing the end product, according to Ms Franceschi. “This was a big investment, but it’s about future proofing our industry,” she says. “It’s about creating something where you can take a food waste product, such as broccoli stems, and turn it into something that will add benefit not only to the consumer, but also to the grower. Food waste is, I think, something we’ve seen trending around the world and even the big supermarkets such as Woolworwths here have started to do something about it.” 

The combination of hearing about 30-50% of the bananas produced in Queensland’s Tully Valley region being chopped up, and learning about the second rate produce often allocated to C-Class hospitals and nursing homes inspired Ms Franceschi to look for a solution that benefited growers and also the wider community. She approached her three business partners to consider investing in solutions of which HPP for WA was one. “I said to my business partners, you’ve had a few successful years which has allowed you to develop further. Now it is time to future proof that investment for the overall stability of the industry and to give something back to our wider community. Fortunately they agreed,” she said.

Thailand, which was closed to Australia because of medfly and fruitfly concerns, and Japan, are two key markets Ms Franceschi believes will be opened up further when the HPP facility is in full use. Negotiations to get into the Japanese market have been ongoing for more than two and a half years, according to her, and the new HPP facility will be able to supply Japan products which Australia’s two other avocado machines, located in Queensland, are not currently producing enough volume to supply.

 

Ms Franceschi says she hopes growers and producers will continue to take advantage of HPP technology, and she highlighted successes that have happened out of the Queensland facilities, where exports are going to the Milddle East and Japan, just keeping up with demand. The first machine for WA is on order from Spain.

 

For more information

 

Jennie Franceschi

Phone: +61417 988 246

E-mail: jennie@westnfresh.net.au

Website: www.westnfresh.net.au