NL Van Amerongen aubergines

Both companies are focused on preserving product quality and freshness along the supply chain

AgroFresh, the US-based company which specialises in helping fresh produce suppliers to enhance the freshness, quality and value of their goods, is teaming up with Dutch controlled atmosphere (CA) technology supplier Van Amerongen to offer a new suite of products and services under the AgroFresh brand.

Together, the two companies will market a new advanced control respiration (ACR) system that combines new equipment and control systems with a comprehensive set of fruit quality management services.

The alliance will bring together Van Amerongen's sound expertise in controlled atmosphere storage equipment, software and machinery development with AgroFresh's extensive knowledge of fruit quality, post-harvest physiology, shelf-life extension and ethylene control, based on more than a decade marketing its trademarked SmartFresh Quality System.

'We are pleased to join forces with Van Amerongen,' said José Soares de Pina, president of AgroFresh. 'Van Amerongen is renowned for its continuous strong investment in R&D, designed to bring the latest innovative CA technologies to the market. Their knowledge and the reliability of their systems, programmes and equipment make them an excellent choice for this alliance.'

He added: 'The combination of Van Amerongen's equipment technology with AgroFresh's vast experience in post-harvest disorder control, fruit quality and shelf-life extension will bring unique synergies and benefits to the fresh produce industry, adding significant value to our customers' operations.'

Raising standards

Van Amerongen chief executive Wim van den Berg also welcomed the deal, describing his company as 'inventors, explorers, engineers and visionaries'.

'We have always worked towards raising standards and focusing on excellence,' he commented. 'We know what moves the market. Through the knowledge we are acquiring continuously, we are staying a step ahead for our customers. Avoiding or minimizing risks for our customers is what we are aiming at with our technical solutions and services.'

Van Amerongen is expected to benefit from AgroFresh's global reach, market strength and broad post-harvest expertise.

The innovative ACR technology will be marketed worldwide as an AgroFresh brand and will undergo significant market testing during the 2014/15 seasons.

AgroFresh is a fully-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and a global business unit of Dow AgroSciences.

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