Duda goes iceless with its broccoli
Duda goes iceless with its broccoli
OVIEDO, FL " A. Duda & Sons, a major grower, shipper and marketer of fresh produce, announced that it will begin shipping iceless broccoli using a new patented system developed by StePac USA, an agri-tech company that specializes in providing post-harvest solutions for the fresh produce industry.
The system uses programmable logic controllers that precisely monitor product quality at critical points throughout the cooling process, as well as a total packaging system that extends shelf life. A unique feature of the system is the ability to provide customers with quality-assurance documentation, which traces the cooling process in its entirety.
StePac?s iceless broccoli system offers advantages over conventional iced systems including the reduction of nutrient loss, which can occur from broccoli?s natural rapid respiration rate.
The system also reduces transportation costs and eliminates the nuisance of dealing with water, ice and waxed cartons. Physical damage and contamination of the produce by crushed ice are of no concern, and the savings on freight costs have been calculated at up to 40 percent.
?Produce selection, bagging and sealing are done in the field, enabling pre-cooling in custom-designed, ventilated cartons without the need for de-palletizing after cooling," said Don Stidham, president of StePac USA. "The Xtend Integrated Post Harvest Cooling Management System then monitors the temperature and weight of the produce during forced-air and vacuum cooling, ensuring that the desired temperature is consistently reached, avoiding broccoli dehydration or freezing. The system provides customers full QA documentation, which traces the cooling process in its entirety."
?StePac?s Xtend system gives us a higher level of confidence that our iceless broccoli products will maintain their quality, freshness and nutrient content," said Sammy Duda, division vice president of Duda?s California operations. "We spent over a year investigating the system and believe it provides the most comprehensive solution to meeting our quality standards for our year-round iceless broccoli program."
Duda will begin using the technology for its winter broccoli harvest in Yuma, AZ.
The system uses programmable logic controllers that precisely monitor product quality at critical points throughout the cooling process, as well as a total packaging system that extends shelf life. A unique feature of the system is the ability to provide customers with quality-assurance documentation, which traces the cooling process in its entirety.
StePac?s iceless broccoli system offers advantages over conventional iced systems including the reduction of nutrient loss, which can occur from broccoli?s natural rapid respiration rate.
The system also reduces transportation costs and eliminates the nuisance of dealing with water, ice and waxed cartons. Physical damage and contamination of the produce by crushed ice are of no concern, and the savings on freight costs have been calculated at up to 40 percent.
?Produce selection, bagging and sealing are done in the field, enabling pre-cooling in custom-designed, ventilated cartons without the need for de-palletizing after cooling," said Don Stidham, president of StePac USA. "The Xtend Integrated Post Harvest Cooling Management System then monitors the temperature and weight of the produce during forced-air and vacuum cooling, ensuring that the desired temperature is consistently reached, avoiding broccoli dehydration or freezing. The system provides customers full QA documentation, which traces the cooling process in its entirety."
?StePac?s Xtend system gives us a higher level of confidence that our iceless broccoli products will maintain their quality, freshness and nutrient content," said Sammy Duda, division vice president of Duda?s California operations. "We spent over a year investigating the system and believe it provides the most comprehensive solution to meeting our quality standards for our year-round iceless broccoli program."
Duda will begin using the technology for its winter broccoli harvest in Yuma, AZ.
