Ray Smuts
LATEST NEWS from TransFRESH is that new CA (controlled atmosphere) tests utilising different ratios of carbon dioxide and oxygen are having additional quality benefits on avocados.
This system has already been applied to 30% of exports which amounts to more that 200 containers, says managing director Dr Malcolm Dodd.
Dr Dodd said his company had developed atmospheres better suited to stone fruit than those used by the opposition which meant there was an increased demand for this particular TransFRESH CA. We are encouraging stone fruit growers to pick the fruit riper as it has more colour, higher sugars and tastes better; all in all a much better eating product at the end.
TransFRESH, Dr Dodd disclosed, is also eyeing the baby vegetable export market, most of which is shipped by air at greater cost.
If we can get growers to go by sea it will be a lot cheaper and what we are looking at is full 20-foot containers of mixed vegetables using a compatible CA.
A high priority for TransFRESH is to regain market share which has shrunk to 45% from the original 100% but that, admits Dr Dodd, will be a long haul
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