The future of packaging is moving toward containers that actively work to keep fresh produce as fresh as possible as it makes its way around the world. That's necessary now that the world is so interconnected and freight passage times are getting longer. Peakfresh's modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) works to continuously remove gases that accelerate the maturing process in fruit in order to deliver products in the freshest state possible.
Ethylene is a gas that fruits and vegetables naturally emit and that trigger the ripening process. Handlers sometimes use the gas to ready unripened product for sale, such as with avocados or green tomatoes. But shippers can also limit the natural production of the gas in order to inhibit the ripening process while the product is en route to its final destination.
Peakfresh MAP bags not only remove the ethylene gas from the inside, but they also regulate moisture in order to inhibit mold and bacteria growth. The bag liner can also be modified to match the different respiration rates of different commodities. Broccoli, for example, has a higher respiration rate than potatoes, so the liners would be different for each product.
The packaging has been a hit in Australia and North America for both retail and bulk shipment use. Now the company hopes to expand the product into Spain and Latin America.
“We can service most of the world from Australia in English,” said Peakfresh's Scott Morton. “But, because of the language barrier, it's more difficult to service Spanish-speaking regions. So we're looking for local distributors in Spain and Latin America that can help us reach those markets.”
