CHICAGO, IL (February 20, 2020) – Hazel Technologies Inc., a USDA-funded technology company delivering new packaging solutions for fresh produce to extend shelf-life, increase sales, and combat food waste, announces today the successful completion of two separate successful supply chain trials with the University of California, Davis and and global produce grower, marketer and distributor Oppy BB #:116424 on kiwifruit.
UC Davis researchers found that Hazel Tech® packaging can maintain post-harvest characteristics such as firmness and weight in green and golden kiwi varieties in standard supply chain conditions.
In a separate study, quality personnel at Oppy™ observed consistent positive results on shelf life after commercially testing Hazel™ with kiwifruit.
The UC Davis trial was conducted on two varieties of kiwi: green “Hayward” kiwi and gold “Soreli” kiwi. Hazel™ packaging inserts were placed with kiwi following packing.
The fruit was then stored for a total trial length of up to 47 days. Kiwifruit were periodically assessed by a team of researchers for standard quality traits such as firmness and weight.
“In our trials, ‘Gold’ kiwifruit had stronger skin when treated with Hazel™ regardless of the evaluation time point,” said Dr. Barbara Blanco-Ulate, Professor at the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. “There was a positive effect of Hazel™ in preventing weight loss of the ‘Green’ kiwifruit after most periods of cold storage”
In addition to trials with UC Davis, kiwifruit received this season by leading global kiwifruit marketer Oppy showed consistently higher quality with Hazel™ packaging. With more than 50 million boxes of fresh produce passing through its inventory annually, Oppy is one of the largest kiwi marketers in the US.
“We are always evaluating potential innovative technologies that will allow us to continue to provide world-class quality fruit to our customers,” said Patricio Mendoza, National Quality Manager, US & Canada at Oppy. “Our data shows consistently higher quality when using Hazel Tech® in our kiwifruit supply chain. Based on these results, our plan is to expand the program.”
“Maintaining optimal kiwifruit quality can be a challenge for suppliers and retailers,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO of Hazel Technologies, “We are truly excited to partner with a leading global kiwi brand in Oppy and a leading kiwi research institution in UC Davis to join in our mission to reduce costly waste in the kiwifruit supply chain and increase sales for the category.”
Founded in 2015, Hazel Tech®‘s technologies revolve around the release of active, shelf-life enhancing vapor from packaging materials. Hazel™ sachets are placed in boxes of bulk produce by packers soon after the time of harvest, extending the shelf-life of produce up to three times by slowing aging in produce and preventing decay.
About Hazel Technologies, Inc.:
Hazel Technologies is a USDA-funded startup company that develops new packaging technologies to extend the quality shelf life of fresh produce. Founded in 2015, Hazel Tech® services over 100 of the largest fresh produce packers, shippers, and retailers in the world. In 2020, Hazel expects to be used with over 3.2 billion pounds of fresh produce, preventing over 270 million pounds of fresh produce from going to waste. For more information, visit www.hazeltechnologies.com.
About The UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences:
The Department of Plant Sciences was created by consolidating the four commodity-based departments of Agronomy and Range Science, Pomology, Vegetable Crops and Environmental Horticulture. This pooling of manpower and resources has fostered better focus on the teaching, research and outreach missions of one of the leading academic programs in agricultural and environmental sciences in the country.
About Oppy™:
Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for more than 160 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world’s harvest. With over 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favorites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Over the years, Oppy has introduced North Americans to a number of items across its diverse produce range, including Granny Smith, JAZZ and Envy apples, as well as green and gold kiwifruit. Go to oppy.com to learn more.
For more information contact:
Jaime Kedrowski
331-431-8037
jaime@hazeltechnologiesinc.com
