Interko to bring latest fruit ripening advances to the Americas

Interko, the world’s foremost designer, manufacturer and installer of fresh fruit ripening technology, will present its latest cutting-edge advances during next PMA Fresh Summit, taking place on 19-20 October in Orlando, the USA. Interko will be promoting its brand-new automatic ripening room sensor, together with the Dutch firm’s recently-completed range of ripening rooms, which are cleverly designed to suit operators of all sizes throughout the Americas. By participating at the annual trade show – which attracts a large number of visitors from across the Americas – Interko will be actively seeking new customers and local partners; not only in the USA and Canada, but also in Mexico, Central America and South America. Any potential or existing customer interested in learning more about Interko and its market-leading ripening solutions, should make an appointment to meet with Senior Business Development Manager Anna Zegveld, who will travel to the show.Interko’s Managing Director/Partner Chris Maat, comments: “Since Interko founder Cornelius Bolkestein established the industry's first patented banana ripening rooms for Chiquita and other brands during the 1980s, Interko’s Europe-built fruit ripening solutions have remained the most advanced and revolutionary on the international market.“For example, we have just launched a brand new, fully-integrated sensor that automatically calibrates the ethylene, carbon dioxide, oxygen and humidity levels within a ripening room. With one simple connection, this sensor can link up to the data network inside every cooler, and can be used in any of our ripening room systems.”Opportunities in the AmericasThanks to this continuous investment into research and development, Interko sees widespread opportunities across North, Central and South America.Maat explains: “Interko is well-placed to deliver significant improvements and upgrades to the technology used across the Americas to ripen bananas, avocados, mangoes and exotic fruits, in particular. Our state-of-the-art systems would deliver real increases in profitability for many operators.”Zegveld continues: “Interko uses cutting-edge equipment and control technologies to manufacture the highest quality and energy-efficient ripening rooms that are cost-effective, reliable and easy to use for operators large and small working in both the domestic and export trades.”Interko’s ripening room range comprises three signature rooms: Ultimo, Axesso and Optimo, the latter of which was recently launched.Zegveld notes: “Ultimo is well-suited to the large volume banana ripeners in the USA, Canada and Mexico, plus Axesso offers interesting flexibility for those wishing to interchange between ripening loads of different fruits.“Optimo, meanwhile, is ideal for any operators located in Mexico and Central America looking for an economical, start-up solution with the advantage of turn-key installation.”New installations in North AmericaInterko’s business is already growing in North America. One US company quick to recognise the benefits offered by Interko’s advanced technology is Charlie’s Produce, the largest independently-owned fresh produce company in the USA Pacific Northwest.Last year, Charlie's Produce opened the doors to a brand new ripening room in Los Angeles that was designed and manufactured by Interko, and installed by Interko's local partner Advanced Ripening Technologies (ART), which will exhibit at PMA Fresh Summit on Booth 4359.Currently, Interko and ART are installing two further ripening rooms for Charlie’s Produce in Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Oregon.Shane Pitman from ART reveals: “Charlie’s Produce has commissioned Interko and ART to establish two large, triple-tiered Ultimo rooms, mainly for bananas, in Boise and Portland, to replicate the success of our initial project at the company’s base in Los Angeles.“This is just one example of how Interko’s modern and sophisticated fruit ripening systems are adding true value for North American operators.”Dutch innovator Interko is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To schedule a meeting at PMA Fresh Summit, contact:Anna ZegveldSenior Business Development ManagerTel: +31 (0)65 347 34 16info@interko.comAbout InterkoInterko is the global leader for the design, manufacture and installation of cost-effective, high quality and low-maintenance ripening rooms for fresh fruit, and cooling systems for the horticulture sector. Founded 50 years ago, Interko develops precise, advanced and energy-efficient systems that are built to last. Since its creation, Interko has installed over 6,000 ripening rooms for bananas, avocados, mangoes, papayas and tomatoes – the earliest of which are still in operation and performing well today. Every year Interko installs around 200 ripening rooms. For more information about Interko, visit:www.interko.comFor more information about Interko's ripening products, visit:www.interko.com/productsOr contact:Chris Maat / Anna ZegveldTel: +31 (0)79 593 2581info@interko.comSOURCE: InterkoPictureOptimo, the new standard in turn-key ripening rooms