Belgian fresh produce marketer BelOrta has apparently become the first company in the country to begin using new storage technology that controls fruit’s respiration and the atmosphere in which it is stored.
The My Fruit system, which is supplied by Belgian firms Ab Coolservice and Aucxis as well as Dutch group Van Amerongen, measures the respiration rates of fruit stored in a cold storage room using a revolutionary ultra-low oxygen (ULO) controller. At the same time, it dynamically controls the room’s atmosphere.
As a result, said BelOrta, customers will be supplied with even crisper, tastier apples and pears during the upcoming winter and spring months.
“With ACR control (Advanced Controlled Respiration), My Fruit measures the respiration of the stored fruit and automatically increases or decreases the amount of oxygen based on respiration characteristics,” the company explained in a statement.
“This continuously adapting system is called DCA (Dynamically Controlled Atmosphere) because it dynamically adapts to the situation of the fruit.”
In contrast with conventional storage, which keeps the entire crop of each cultivar in constant gas conditions throughout the entire season, DCA starts with an advised setting but then decreases oxygen levels automatically, ensuring the fruit's metabolism slows down and it does not ripen as quickly.
“This concept offers significant advantages over the classic ULO storage system,” said a spokesperson for BelOrta. “The first advantage is an energy saving of up to 30 to 40 per cent. Also, this renewed storage system offers a longer storage period while retaining quality, including longer shelf-life.”
The spokesperson added: “An additional advantage is the possibility of various storage conditions for different batches of the same cultivar, dependent on their sensitivity to lower oxygen levels. Moreover, there could be a differences in the storage season.”
Tests on Belgian Jonagold pears in the DCA refrigerated storage unit have reportedly shown that the fruit stays hard longer when in a dynamically controlled atmosphere.
“Starting this storage season, the ULO cells of two important storage departments in BelOrta will be equipped with this innovative system. Henceforth, our producers can opt for this advanced storage system if they would like.”
