Brazilian apple specialist Fischer has refitted its entire packhouse with new sorting, washing and packing equipment.
The overhaul at the Fraiburgo, Santa Catarina-based company is designed to guarantee an offer of top quality apples to the market.
As part of the upgrades, Fischer has invested almost €6m in new electronic sorting machinery from Dutch manufacturer Greefa.
“This is our first season with the new machinery,” Fischer’s commercial manager Wilson Passos told Americafruit, Asiafruit and Eurofruit.
“We now have 50 sorting lines, compared with 30 previously, which automatically and more efficiently grade the fruit. The machinery also gives us more details about the quality differences in the fruit which makes our quality control stronger. We believe it’s the first machine of its kind in Brazil.”
The installation forms part of a complete packhouse modernisation carried out by Fischer in time for the 2013 season.
The company began processing its first crop at the revamped packhouse at the end of January.
he full story is printed in the March issue of Eurofruit. To subscribe to go www.fruitnet.com/subscribe
