After much research and experimentation, TransFresh Corp., based in Salinas, CA, has found that its new Tectrol Storage Solutions for fresh blueberries has gained traction from the buyer and shipper communities, and is offering extended shelf life for blueberries.

TransFresh Vice President Rich Macleod said the system was introduced last year, but during its first year the company was discovering how it can best be applied and utilized. The solution involves using a pallet bag made of Apio’s patented BreatheWay technology with its breathable membrane in conjunction with an easy-to-use zipper-sealed pallet system that provides 100 percent seal-ability.  

The Tectrol atmosphere is injected into the bag just prior to sealing it, and the breathable membrane enables it to maintain a shelf life-extending presence for as long as it is in storage, whether that be one week or six weeks.

Macleod explained that blueberries, which are a very hardy crop, are often held in storage for marketing purposes. This new pallet-bagging system creates an adjustable breathability to manage just the right rate of oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer required by the fruit. He noted that the TransFresh solution has been very well received by the industry.

Relatively speaking, it does utilize an expensive pallet bag, but Macleod said “the reason we are so excited about it is because it pencils out. It adds great value to everyone” along the supply chain.

He added that it is the combination of the breakthrough sealing process and the breathable membrane that delivers to customers an easy storage solution with minimal impact to the other aspects of their processes.

Macleod said customers have told him they have much more confidence in their storage solutions because they are able to more effectively match supplies with market demand. A pallet-sized atmosphere package such as the Tectrol Storage Solutions gives suppliers the flexibility to market a quality product through the peaks and valleys of the distribution system.

Currently, the system is being used in U.S. warehouses for product originating in the United States. Blueberries are an international commodity with Chile and other points of origin shipping large volumes to the United States, often in controlled atmosphere sea containers. Macleod said TransFresh is currently looking at how this new system can be adapted to that storage and shipping process.

TransFresh was started almost 50 years ago (1966) to help shippers create the perfect atmosphere for shipping perishable product across the country and helping it to arrive in excellent condition.

Over the years, strawberries and raspberries, with the relative high perishability, have formed the core of the company’s business. Though there have been many varietal improvements, especially for strawberries, the perishability of the crop is still an issue for cross-country shipments.

Macleod said the process of bagging the pallet and injecting the modified atmosphere has been improved over the years, which has significantly increased the speed of the operation, but the basic concept has remained the same.

This blueberry solution, however, is somewhat revolutionary as it does combine the atmosphere with superior packaging material and a perfect seal to extend the shelf life of that item.