CATsystem by Citrosol and Cooperativa La Palma Honored with the Postharvest Innovation Recognition 2024

On October 8th, during the Fruit Attraction fair, the 2024 Postharvest Innovation Directory was officially launched at the Agrobank stand. The event, hosted by Dr. Claudia Conesa, Editor of Poscosecha.com / Postharvest.biz, drew over 70 attendees, highlighting the increasing interest and importance of postharvest practices in the agricultural sector.

Claudia Conesa, Editora en Poscosecha.com, was responsible for presenting the Postharvest Innovation Directory and the first edition of the Postharvest Recognitions

The event concluded with the first edition of the Postharvest Recognitions, celebrating excellence in the sector across two categories. The first, Postharvest Innovation 2024, was selected by our readers from the most innovative products, services, and companies featured in the 2024 Directory. The second category, Postharvest 4.0, honored one of the country's leading fresh produce packinghouses for its commitment to modernization and continuous improvement.

CATsystem®: Recognized for Innovation in the Postharvest Directory 2024

The newly launched 2024 Postharvest Innovation Directory, unveiled at the fair, marked a milestone by returning to print format alongside its digital version. Distributed successfully at the event, this edition offered advertisers a unique platform to connect directly with potential clients. Each company highlighted its most innovative product or service, featuring a QR code linking to its profile on Poscosecha.com for easy access to a comprehensive catalog of solutions and providing an interactive experience.

Poscosecha.com readers, through an online vote, awarded the Innovation Recognition in the Postharvest Directory to Citrosol's CATsystem®. This automated system is designed to optimize postharvest citrus fungicide treatments, complementing the Vertido Cero® technology that filters and disinfects the treatment solution. The CATsystem® measures and adjusts, in real-time, the concentrations of fungicides, disinfectants, and additives in the treatment solution, ensuring precise control of postharvest processes. This innovative technology enhances operational efficiency, minimizes waste, and increases customer satisfaction.

Dr. Alicia Namesny, CEO of Poscosecha.com / Postharvest.biz, had the honor of presenting the first Innovation Recognition. The award was accepted by Jorge Bretó, CEO of Citrosol, and Dr. Benito Orihuel, Postharvest Consultant at Citrosol. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Orihuel said:

"This recognition is the result of what could be considered an obsession at Citrosol. We say in our marketing 'We Measure and Verify,' which has allowed us to identify the significant variability in postharvest product applications and their negative consequences. Since decay control is fundamental, our Vertido Cero system was a breakthrough in maintaining the effectiveness of drencher treatments. With the CATsystem®, we achieve total control over this critical process, avoiding losses and complaints. We began its development in 2017; it has been a long and challenging journey. I want to congratulate Xavi Parra, our R&D Director, for this achievement. I invite you all to visit our stand to learn more about this tool and the problems it solves."

Dr. Benito Orihuel and Jorge Bretó from Citrosol received the Innovation Recognition in the 2024 Postharvest Directory

Cooperativa La Palma: Postharvest 4.0 Recognition

Cooperativa La Palma was awarded the Postharvest 4.0 Recognition for its innovative approach to production processes and its offering of whole and minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Pere Papasseit, editor at SPE3, had the privilege of presenting the award to the cooperative's president, Pedro Ruiz, who was accompanied by several members of the board.

Pedro Ruiz, president of Cooperativa La Palma, received the Postharvest 4.0 Recognition from Pere Papasseit, Editor at SPE3

Pere Papasseit emphasized the significance of the new building adjacent to the cooperative’s packinghouses, which includes a modern supermarket and a restaurant bar specializing in locally sourced ready-to-eat vegetables. The facility also features a VegLab, an experimental kitchen for creating vegetable-based menus, and a multimedia room for showcookings and interactive sessions, promoting collaboration with international chefs and experts. This new space reflects Cooperativa La Palma's ongoing commitment to innovation.

Upon receiving the recognition, President Pedro Ruiz expressed his gratitude and emphasized the cooperative’s dual commitment: to offer the highest quality and innovation in fruits and vegetables to their customers, while contributing to the sustainability and well-being of their members through these postharvest 4.0 innovations.

In the cover image, Pedro Ruiz is accompanied by several members of the Board of Directors of Cooperativa La Palma, along with Carlos Campos, Director of AgroBank in the Valencian Community, and Pere Papasseit, Editor at SPE3