"One of the major developments in fruit storage is switching from synthetic to natural coolants," says Frank van de Geijn of Fruit Bewaring & Advies. After years of experience at DLV Consultancy and Wageningen Univeristy Research, he founded his own company, Fruit Bewaring & Advies, in the Netherlands last year. Frank now supervises new construction projects and consults on existing cooling systems. "I roughly estimate about half of the cold stores must still be converted from synthetic to natural refrigerants."
Switching to natural coolants, like CO2, propane, or ammonia, is a must since the Dutch government wants to minimize and phase out synthetic F gas usage. Frank points out that converting to natural agents is a major adjustment. "It often requires a new refrigeration system," he says.
Cooling systems that still use synthetic refrigerants are often 20 to 25 years old. There is, however, no rush to replace these if they still work. In case of leaks, though, companies use recycled synthetic material for, for example, the commonly used R404A and R507 coolants. "From 2025, only recycled materials may be used, and from 2030, those will be prohibited," Frank explains. He does not expect all old systems to be replaced because it costs more to cool with natural refrigerants.
Switching to contract cooling is another trend. "Many growers opt for this because investing in in-house refrigeration is no longer profitable." Yet, energy costs, which rose sharply due to the Ukraine crisis, make it difficult for contract coolers to offer competitive prices. "With higher energy prices, growers can self-cool at lower costs, especially if the system has already depreciated," Frank points out.
Moisture loss in fruit storage is also garnering attention. "Over the past 15 years, our understanding of moisture loss as an important quality parameter has grown." For example, it appears pears do well in a more humid refrigerated climate, while apples, which lose more moisture, should be stored in drier climates. "With apple varieties such as Kanzi, Boskoop, or Elstar, we ensure the cooling system is not too humid to prevent moisture loss," Frank concludes.
By closely monitoring cooling behavior, you can detect minor issues early, contributing to fruit quality maintenance. Frank sees the future of fruit storage as relying heavily on increased sustainability, energy optimization, and maintaining product quality.
Frank van de Geijn Fruit Bewaring & Advies
Keizerstraat 8A
4064 ED Varik
[email protected]
www.fruitbewaring.nl
M: +31 6 10 93 51 58