Hazel Technologies, Inc. is slowing the yellowing process of limes for lime growers and wholesalers across the United States. Collaborators like Pharr, Texas-based produce shipper London Fruit, Inc. and Pittsburg, Kansas-based produce wholesaler Martinous Produce Company are seeing extended freshness in their limes, thanks to Hazel Tech’s flagship technology, Hazel 100™.
Limes have experienced exponential growth in the United States over the last decade, thanks to the everyday shopper’s interest in the category. The retail availability of limes per person nearly doubled over the last decade, going from 2.4 lbs. in 2010 to 3.9 lbs. in 2020, according to the USDA. With more shoppers looking for perfectly green limes, a key indicator of freshness for the fruit, growers and wholesalers are turning to technologies like Hazel 100 to ensure their fruit makes it to retailers in the greenest and freshest state possible.
“Hazel 100 is a very cost-effective value-add that helps extend lime shelf life for customers,” said Amanda Horney, business development manager at London Fruit. “The product provides them with a sense of security, especially right now, near the end of the summer when limes turn yellow so quickly.”
During a 20-day trial in 2021, Hazel Tech’s postharvest team compared the overall skin color found in 10 boxes of Hazel 100-treated limes and 10 boxes of untreated limes. On the final day of the trial, 30 percent of the Hazel 100-treated limes had greener skin than the control.
“I heard about Hazel® through our lime supplier, London Fruit,” Farris Martinous, owner of Martinous Produce Company. “We started adding the product to our limes and it’s really helped us with the shelf life for our retail customers. Since we’ve been using it, I don’t think we’ve had any problems, but if we have had any problems, it was very minor.”
During a 20-day trial in 2021, Hazel Tech’s postharvest team compared the overall skin color found in 10 boxes of Hazel 100-treated limes and 10 boxes of untreated limes. On days four through 20 of the trial, results showed the sachets reduced yellowing in the lime’s exterior across the board. On the final day of the trial, 30 percent of the Hazel 100-treated limes had greener skin than the control.
“Consistently greener skin in the treated limes in this trial confirms our technology’s ability to extend the shelf life of limes,” said Andrea Rivera, postharvest customer success manager at Hazel Technologies. “Adding those additional days gives the lime industry more time to get high-quality fruit to people wanting the freshest limes.”
For more information:
Hazel Technologies
Tel: +1 (559) 321-2146
media@hazeltechnologies.com
www.hazeltechnologies.com