Vidre+, a breakthrough technology that unlocks the full potential of the ethylene inhibitor 1-MCP, is now being introduced to growers, packers, shipper and retailers, who can all easily incorporate it into their operations to extend shelf-life of produce and floral items.

Fresh Inset, a European-based food technology company founded in 2017, developed Vidre+, whose technology is grounded in a successful, proven science to extend the shelf life of apples, pears and flowers. That science is now available for a broad range of commodities thanks to Vidre+, according to Kevin Frye, vice president of market development-North America at Fresh Inset.

Frye said one of the main advantages of Vidre+ is that it can be implemented across the supply chain without any reorganization or major capital investment.

“Vidre+ transforms every existing type of fresh produce packaging and label into a functional and adaptable smart version with adjustable protection against the negative effects of ethylene,” said Frye. “Vidre+ Stickers can be tailored to optimize size and dose rate, ensuring effective protection for ethylene-sensitive produce in any type or size of packaging, including cardboard boxes, bags, trays and clamshells.”

He added that Vidre+ is the only freshness extension product that is affixed to, or printed on, the produce packaging itself and can be customized by package size and produce variety.

“So now, produce beyond apples and pears, such as blueberries, cherries, raspberries, limes, avocados and even fresh-cut produce, can stay fresh longer,” said Frye.

Aside from growers, packers, shippers and retailers, Frye said that packaging companies will benefit since they now have the ability to empower their existing bags, boxes and clamshells with an enhanced freshness function and deliver added value with packaging that will actually improve the freshness and quality of produce.

With companies across the produce supply chain striving to be sustainable in one way or another, Vidre+ can be a key part of that effort, according to Frye.

According to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, around 45 percent of fruits and vegetables are wasted globally each year along the supply chain, which is more than any other food group. Frye said that worldwide adoption of Vidre+ would help reduce global food shortages and have a positive impact on the environment.

“The carbon footprint generated pre-harvest and the resources that go into raising a crop, such as water use, are not wasted when the produce is not wasted,” said Frye. “Additionally, Vidre+ enhances existing packaging with a freshness extension function, so there is nothing extra to dispose of that would contribute to landfills or otherwise have a negative impact on the environment.”

Frye said Fresh Inset has a growing global presence, including North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, Asia and Africa. The company is comprised of experienced scientists, agronomists, engineers, packaging experts seasoned produce industry executives and entrepreneurs who are focused on worldwide food waste reduction through innovative technology that benefits each link of the produce supply chain, and ultimately consumers.

Additionally, Fresh Inset is recognized as one of the “Fortune 500 of AgriFoodTech by Forward Fooding, and has received many other innovation acknowledgements from around the world, said Frye.

Key Benefits of Vidre+

• Extended quality of fresh produce and flowers.
• This includes increased yield, reduced markdowns and improved logistics efficiencies for suppliers, as they may experience less frequent shipments and deliveries. For retailers, they could see less waste and higher rings. For consumers, it means more time to enjoy fresh and healthy products.
• Reduced spoilage of products during transport and storage.
• For fresh fruits and vegetables, which sometimes experience 30 percent loss from farm to fork, this means ocean transport may be possible instead of air transport
• Preservation of the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.
• Higher levels of vitamins in stored and packed produce are retained.
• • Ease of use

Vidre+ is cost-effective, provides a positive return on investment and can be implemented at any point of the supply chain without the need for specialized labor or equipment.