New scanner tech Rubens will be on show at Macfrut, alongside the company’s new anti-fungal system for table grapes
At this year’s Macfrut trade show in Rimini, Italy, post-harvest technology company AgroFresh will show off a new tool that enables growers to scan their fruit and decide the best time to harvest, without damaging the product in the process.
Originally launched in late 2024 in collaboration with Rubens Technologies, the Rubens scanner is a handheld device that can assess things like maturity, sugar and starch levels, and firmness without damaging the product.
“Rubens puts data in the hands of the grower – in the field, in real time,” says Ivo Secchi, commercial manager at AgroFresh. “It’s a practical, digital solution that gives our customers more control over one of the most important decisions of the season.”
According to AgroFresh, Rubens integrates seamlessly into orchard workflows and helps producers to optimise ripeness, meet export specs, and maintain their brand reputation.
At the same time, it promises to reduce waste and unnecessary costs, while improving pack-out rates and securing more consistent fruit quality.
At Macfrut, AgroFresh also plans to introduce Proteku, a sulphur dioxide sheet that helps prevent decay in table grapes during storage and transport. Proteku has been developed for use with Uvasys, a pioneering post-harvest solution originally developed by Tessara – now part of AgroFresh – to protect table grapes from fungal decay.
