AgroFresh at the service of Greek kiwifruit growers

The Greek kiwifruit harvest is coming soon with a big and good quality crop. To maintain the just -picked quality and freshness of kiwifruit, AGROFRESH offers SmartFresh™ Quality System, a solution that helps to reduce waste during fruit processing. "SmartFresh™ in the only registered and proven ethylene inhibiting solution for kiwifruit in the market and since its introduction a dozen years ago It is today fully integrated in the quality management process of Greek kiwifruit growers", says Stamatis Karros Sales Director at Agrocell, the local representative of AgroFresh. Kiwifruit is a highly ethylene-sensitive fruit, softening very quickly and causing important losses in this crop segment. SmartFresh™ provides inventory and marketing flexibility in storage and during transport. It satisfies both controlled atmosphere (CA) and regular atmosphere (RA) guidelines. Also, this technology helps to maintain better firmness levels and overall freshness during and especially after storage. Used according to AgroFresh recommendations, SmartFresh™ provides proven returns on investments and opens the possibility for new routes involving longer distance shipments. AgroFresh has developed robust use recommendations over time. Expert advice includes the adaptation of storage conditions and calibration of application time to optimize effect in relation to storage length and market request. Users find value in the fruit coming out of storage firmer with a fresher ‘green’ look. The fruit does not lose condition during packing and transport which gives more confidence in the inventory being packed and received at destination at optimum firmness, resulting in less waste.  AgroFresh continues to work closely with kiwifruit market leaders and researchers to achieve the best results while ensuring full consumer satisfaction. Resolutely market oriented, the company is investing lot of efforts in research of SmartFresh™ use on the new yellow varieties. Beyond this solution, AgroFresh is offering two equipments to reduce the use of water. Control-Tec DOS DPF is a proportional dosage system for fungicide drenchers and tanks. It maintains the concentration of the products at levels that are programmed during the entire application, and therefore its effectiveness. This system maximizes the use of the water and products, adjusting their consumption to the needs according to the quantity of treated fruit. It will automatically contribute to the mix (depending on the processed fruit), the product replenishment dose and the amount of water programmed. Control-Tec ECO R1 reuse waste water from drenchers and tanks. It employs the latest filtration technology to purge particles, solids and organic matter from waste water through a programmed operation. This system clarifies mixtures to reuse them and thus minimize discharges generated, and at the same time reduces the amount of underutilized plant protection products.