Sufresca, Ltd. announced its optimized invisible edible coating designed to extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Additionally, it will introduce differentiated solutions to suit a wider range of fruit and vegetables in the future.
The edible, water-based emulsion is made of natural food ingredients and includes advanced modified atmosphere properties. According to the company, the solution can create a breathable coating to be applied to fresh fruit and vegetables, with minimum disruptions within the coatings which act as a partial barrier that allows for optimal gas exchange.
Efrat Boker-Ferri, CEO of Sufresca, explains: “The chaotic structure of our coating was inspired by the cuticle structures that naturally layer plants to protect them from extreme environmental conditions and from water loss.”
Consequently, the barrier stalls post-harvest maturation and ripening, and inhibits degradation and delay; extending shelf life by several weeks, according to the company. This would mean saving plastic packaging and extending shipment time. Surfresca claims that 40-60% of fruit and vegetables produced worldwide are lost or wasted before reaching consumers due to spoilage.
Professor Amos Nussinovitch, CSO of Surfresca, comments: “Each vegetable has its own unique traits. In our search for the common denominator that connects the plant kingdom, these physiological distinctions had to be addressed.”
Last year, the company reached a “breakthrough” by optimising the proprietary solution to be applied to different types of cucumber, mango, and avocado, among others.
Boker-Ferri concludes: “Retailers and packaging houses are seeking cost-effective solutions to reduce waste and are kind to the planet. Our natural formula can be easily integrated into existing industry equipment, is adaptable to the various coating techniques and is completely safe to use. While we do offer a range of support services and guidance, our system is very straightforward to implement, eliminating the need for Sufresca personnel to be on site, increasing its affordability.”
The French Government recently announced that it would ban produce from being sold in plastic packaging, leaving discussions about the relationship between food waste and packaging.
Solutions such as Sufresca’s could help companies, governments, and consumers to balance product preservation with sustainability
