Natural Extracts Added To Absorbent Pads To Extend Life Of Delicate Fruits

Delicate and soft fruits could gain significant shelf-life extension thanks to a new Sirane technology using natural extracts which enhance the fruit’s own protection.

Delicate and soft fruits could gain significant shelf-life extension thanks to a new Sirane technology using natural extracts which enhance the fruit’s own protection. For many years Sirane has been at the forefront of research into shelf-life extending technology for fresh produce, and this latest product development combines ground-breaking work with existing technologies to create another major step forward.

Sirane’s new Dri-Fresh ABV pads contain a blend of natural bio-flavonoids and organic acids which work together to naturally enhance the fruit’s own protective defences. Together with the absorbency within the pad, they offer an outstanding level of protection. The technology can be supplied as standard absorbent pads or incorporated into Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold pads – absorbent cushioned pads which prevent damage to soft-fruit during transportation. The technology is activated by moisture – so only functions when needed.

Simon Balderson, Sirane MD, said: “Shelf-life extension within fruit, particularly the soft-fruit world, is a big deal in the industry, just a few extra days can make a big difference. Soft-fruit has a short-shelf-life and so additional shelf-life is very valuable. It has little in the way of protective skin, so is vulnerable to fungal and bacterial degradation. As it is soft it is also vulnerable to damage during transportation – which can often be a long way.

“This is a completely natural solution to those problems that is very effective. What we’re doing is effectively taking the fruit’s own natural defences and supplying it when needed in a concentrated form. The results so far have proven to be very impressive. The combination of flavonoids which are anti-oxidants and anti-microbial, with organic acids including citric acid and ascorbic acids is harmless, as all elements are found naturally within fruit. It is clean, simple, and effective. Nature itself often has the answers. This complements existing shelf-life extending technologies, including absorbent cushioned pads, anti-fungal pads, ethylene-absorbing pads and labels and more.”

Dri-Fresh ABV has FDA approval, and approval for the EU is in hand. Successful trials have been held in the US with cut fruit – including strawberries – and in the Far East. Those trials have shown shelf-life extension of several days. Simon Balderson added: “Actual shelf-life extension can be notoriously difficult to quantify, as it is affected by many parameters, however we believe this will offer several days or more additional shelf-life.”

Fruits that would potentially benefit from Dri-Fresh ABV or Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold ABV include all types of berries – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, as well as other fruits vulnerable to damage including tomatoes, apricots, kiwi fruit, nectarines and grapes.

Sirane’s Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold cushioned pads are already being shipped in large quantities to berry producers across North and Central America and Chile – some of the biggest soft-fruit growing regions globally – with the product starting to appear on supermarket shelves worldwide, including the UK. Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold ABV will only increase this demand.

Sirane’s new factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, will be supplying much of this demand. Based in the heart of the Mexican growing region – and close to many of the region’s major producers – Sirane Mexico will open in January. The 1,500 sq m unit will initially focus on manufacturing fresh produce packaging into this rapidly-expanding industry.

Dri-fresh Soft-Hold fruit cushioning pads are ‘absorbent bubble pads’ – perfect for berries of all types - combining the cushioning and protective properties of bubble films with effective absorbency, high permeability and excellent product presentation. Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold is available as loose pads of any size as well as reels for automatic packaging operations. Standard colours are red and black and other colours are available on request. The products are available for all global markets and applications.

Simon Balderson said: “The Soft-Hold surface has a unique ‘tear-drop’ embossing pattern which raises the fruit from the surface to encourage air-flow and inhibit sweating, damage and corresponding fungal growth. The thermo-formed pattern minimises the contact area between each berry and the surface and stops the berries from moving around the pack.

“The pad is absorbent and quickly absorbs and traps any leakage from the fruit to ensure clean and attractive presentation. The pure colours available highlight and contrast the natural colour of the fruit to give the best possible appearance and quality perception. A Dri-Fresh Soft-Hold ABV pad would have everything – it would offer effective absorbency, protective cushioning, and effective enhancement of the fruit’s own natural defences.”

The product complements an already impressive list of products perfect for transporting or selling fresh produce, including Dri-Fresh Resolve and Dri-Fresh Fresh-Hold absorbent pads and incredible shelf-life extending film and bags, Sira-Flex Resolve. Sirane is a highly innovative product development-to-manufacture company based in Telford, Shropshire. It has four divisions: food packaging; medical and healthcare; industrial and horticultural. The company specialises in absorbent solutions.

Sirane will be exhibiting at Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February 3-5, 2016. The stand is B-09, Hall 8.2. Anyone wanting to know more about any products is welcome to visit.

Source: Sirane