For many apple producers around the world, the UK is a vitally important market. But if you are shipping apples from New Zealand or Chile, you want to be sure the product arrives in the best possible condition for the end consumer.
SmartFresh is the latest tool to be introduced in the bid to maintain apple quality during either transport or storage.
The post harvest chemical treatment is designed for use in produce storage facilities or transit containers to maintain the critical attributes of fresh picked quality.
Developers Agrofresh, part of the Rohm and Haas company, say it works with the natural ripening process, acting as a placeholder in the space where ethylene sits.
A spokesman says: “When SmartFresh is present, the negative effects associated with ripening are slowed so that fresh-picked quality can be maintained. When the fruit is removed from storage, ripening slowly begins again.”
Effectively, the active ingredient in SmartFresh is 1-MCP which reduces the fruits ability to make and respond to ethylene.
The process was only recently approved for commercial use on UK apples, however the apple industry has been evaluating the treatment, with a fair degree of success, for some time.
According to Qualytech, the fruit technical and quality assurance team with Worldwide Fruit, there are several advantages to using SmartFresh. These include the removal or reduction of the need for DPA antioxidant treatment for the control of scald, thus removing the risk of residues caused by post harvest dipping.
Treatment also leads to improved fruit firmness compared with untreated fruit, which leads to superior shelf life and fruit bowl eating characteristics. Another advantage included a reduction in the levels of bitter pit in varieties such as Meridian and Egremont Russet. Lower levels of disorder were reported compared to untreated samples.
Dr Drew Reynolds, technical director with Worldwide Fruit, says: “We’ve done some significant trials with it here and in New Zealand, and we’re also conducting some smaller trials in the US and Canada.
“We’ve seen some promising results, and overall I would say that SmartFresh does an excellent job of keeping the fruit firmer and in good condition.”
However, he does say there are some caveats to go with that. “You have to make sure that you pick the fruit at optimum time, so it stays in a better condition for longer. You also still have to follow good agricultural practices.
“The logisitics of getting it right are not very easy. And you have to have the right kind of store that you can treat the product in.
“But if the grower picks the fruit at the right time and stores it correctly then they’ll get a positive result.”
The treatment has already attracted the attention of the retailers. Alasdair MacLennan, produce technologist at Sainsbury’s, says: “It seems to be doing a pretty good job for us. It’s basically allowing us to provide apples for longer with better pressures so they are better quality for consumers.”
Reynolds says the business case for the use of SmartFresh in the UK might not be as strong as other areas, such as New Zealand, when it comes to certain aspects.
“We’ve seen real benefits in New Zealand, where there’s been a tendency in the past for fruit to lose pressure. SmartFresh can provide a good alternative to CA.
“However, in the UK where we tend not to have as many problems with fruit firmness, there’s less of a reason to use it.”
It has proved useful on particular varieties, though, he adds. “We’ve had successful results using it with Royal Gala and also with Bramley.” Sainsbury’s MacLennan says the chain expects the treatment to be more widely used throughout the UK season this year, and that it will have a greater impact as a result.
But there are reasons other than maintaining fruit pressure for using SmartFresh. Reynolds points to the fact the treatment can be used as a viable DPA replacement.
“A major reason for using it is to get away from using post harvest chemicals, and get away from leaving residues on the fruit. We’re keen to get growers to move away from using the chemicals and SmartFresh does not produce any residue.”
A reduction in residues is certainly something that gets the thumbs up from the retailers, says MacLennan: “Cutting out residues on fruit is a definite plus.”
However, before the apple industry collectively heads down the SmartFresh route, there are things still to consider. Cost being one of the biggest factors, with some estimates indicating the use of SmartFresh could add as much as around one pence per kilogram.
Reynolds says: “At the end of the day, the growers will have to weigh up the costs for themselves.”
Also, the treatment, while effective on some varieties, has had mixed results on others, with Cox being a particular issue. Reynolds says: “Cox is generally a firmer apple, so its not that effective. The treatment is generally most effective on varieties that have a softer texture. Although the issues with Cox size this season might mean SmartFresh can play a part.”
However, generally, tests by Qualytech have resulted in darkened russeting and the increased likelihood of coreflush.
Sainsbury’s MacLennan is confident those issues will be resolved however: “There are potential issues on certain varieties, however, there’s work being done to resolve those, and I don’t think they are too serious.”
BRAMLEY AND GALA BENEFIT
Among the many varieties that have benefited from the use of SmartFresh, two have particularly stood out - Gala and Bramley.
According to Qualytech, Bramley appears to be the variety with the most to gain from SmartFresh, with treatment offering the opportunity to remove the need for post harvest treatment with DPA.
Results in commercial tests last year have shown that SmartFresh gave the apples good protection from scald, particularly in a year where the risk of scald was high.
On Gala, Qualytech says the apple seems to respond well to the treatment, particularly reflected in both shelf life and fruit bowl eating quality.
The report states: “Gala which is stored under five and three conditions and treated with SmartFresh has shown advantages in storage potential over untreated fruit stored under the same conditions.”
However, it warns: “SmartFresh is not designed as a hospital treatment for late picked fruit and should not be used as a substitute for picking at the correct stage of maturity.”
Other varieties that have enjoyed success with the treatment have included Egremont and Empire.
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