Covers: How to Prevent Dehydration and Extend the Shelf Life of Fruits This Season?

The 2024-2025 fruit season comes with climate challenges that demand innovative solutions for the preservation and management of moisture in export products. Given the impact of climate change, rising temperatures, and prolonged waits during harvesting and transportation, Paclife introduces a comprehensive line of covers specifically designed to maintain the quality and freshness of fruits like cherries, which are expected to face a record production volume this year.

Harvestech Covers

Harvestech covers are designed to maintain optimal humidity during the critical dehydration period that occurs between harvesting and processing. Thanks to their differential planimetry technology and the inclusion of specific additives, these covers achieve high relative humidity in the environment without increasing internal temperature. This not only protects the fruits from dust and other external agents but is also essential for minimizing water loss and preserving fruit quality until processing.

Fresh Cooling Macroperforated Covers

Fresh Cooling Macroperforated covers are the ideal solution for pallets of fruits awaiting processing, especially in light of the expected overproduction of cherries. By increasing the relative humidity in the environment, these covers minimize the dehydration of the fruits, preserving their freshness and appearance before packaging, which is crucial for meeting the demands of international markets like China.

In addition to maintaining product quality, these covers ensure that pedicels and stems remain green, providing a fresh appearance during transit. They are the preferred choice for pallets of finished products or those on their way to the packaging process. Their ability to increase relative humidity minimizes fruit dehydration, allowing products to arrive fresh at their final destination. Their design is also compatible with controlled atmospheres, representing a significant advantage in short-duration transportation.

MAP Covers

MAP (Modified Atmosphere) covers, with a two-phase design, provide the same benefits as modified atmosphere in a box-to-box system but are applied at the complete pallet level. This innovative solution facilitates product handling by eliminating the need to seal or tie each individual box. They are ideal for long transits and prolonged storage.

Paclife offers these MAP covers, which do not require long pre-cooling periods. This way, the entire pallet can maintain a controlled atmosphere similar to that of individual packages, minimizing the need for additional handling and protecting products during maritime and air transport.

Moreover, MAP covers provide significant operational benefits, as they are applied at the pallet level, optimizing logistics and reducing labor needs. They are installed after the product is pre-cooled, allowing for a reduction in cooling times. In raw material chambers, Paclife recommends adequate ventilation adjusted to specific handling conditions and practices, ensuring comprehensive and high-quality preservation at every stage.

Marcela Silva, Deputy Manager of Postharvest, commented:

“Today, it is essential to maintain the moisture chain at all stages, from harvest to the final destination. Our range of solutions is designed to meet this need. We are expecting a record cherry production, and we must be prepared to ensure that the fruit arrives in optimal condition.”

With this offering, Paclife reaffirms its position as a strategic ally for Latin American exporters seeking to meet quality standards in demanding markets like the United States, achieving greater efficiency in the preservation and freshness of their products.