As part of its commitment to innovation, the company Kiwi Atlántico, the largest marketer of kiwis in Spain, has launched the "Fábrica 4.0" project. This is an initiative that strives, among other things, for the design and construction of a system able to measure the internal quality of the fruit, according to its degree of maturity. The machine will standardise the Kiwis in batches based on their Brix (sugar), toughness, firmness and dry matter.
This innovative project will make it possible for the fruit to reach the consumer in a uniform way, so that consumers can eat them whenever they want without first having to check which pieces are ripe.
Kiwi Atlántico has already taken the first steps. To achieve this, it has collaborated with AINIA Technology Centre for the implementation of its knowledge on the spectral fingerprint of different foods and agricultural products.
This system will bring the kiwis of Kiwi Atlántico to the forefront of the international market and provide a breakthrough in the sector. Moreover, it will improve the brand's reputation and, according to reports from the company, the production will likely grow to be able to meet the increased demand that should be generated for this "premium" quality product. It will also be beneficial for the fruit's transportation, as by knowing what the fruit's exact shelf life is, it will be possible to select the most suitable product to ensure it arrives in perfect condition.
Kiwi Atlántico, which once again will be present at the international fair Fruit Attraction, is inviting everyone interested in this innovative system to visit them at the company's stand (5D04A) to receive all the information they may need.
“Galicia Food 2016” award
Last June, Kiwi Atlántico received the Galicia Food 2016 award from the president of the Government of Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, in the category of Best business trajectory. The award was presented as part of the conference, Galicia Food Forum, organised by the Food Cluster of Galicia (Clusaga).
The management team pointed to the "great pride" that this recognition means for them. "When we started working with this product, 28 years ago, nobody was familiar with it. It was difficult to predict where the project would take us. Today, we are the largest trader of Spanish kiwifruit, and it is very comforting to receive praise for our development," they said.