VISIT OUR NEW PRIMEPRO® WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
A fresh approach to shelf life extension
Consumers know fresh produce is the key to a healthy lifestyle and demand the best-quality produce for their tables. Grocery stores want to attract customers by having top-quality fresh produce, year-round. Growers, packers and shippers are trying to increase profits and cut costs while keeping up with the constantly changing demands of a competitive marketplace. As the produce industry tries to satisfy these demands, shelf-life extension technologies become more and more important.
PrimePro® is a packaging technology designed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. It extends shelf life by removing ethylene gas, a powerful plant hormone that triggers the process of ripening and decay.
Growers, packers and shippers who use PrimePro® say:
• Produce arrives at its destination in top quality – appearance, texture, flavour, nutritional value and food safety are maintained at their peak
• Weight loss is minimized
• Sea or truck freight can be substituted for expensive air freight
• Higher prices can be obtained by holding produce until market conditions are in the seller’s favour
• Weaker or shoulder-season product can be exported
• Mixed truckloads become safer
What is ethylene?
Ethylene (C2H4) is a plant hormone. Some plants require ethylene to initiate the ripening process. Other plants do not require ethylene to ripen. Some types of produce generate large amounts of ethylene on their own. But most fruits and vegetables are sensitive to ethylene and so ethylene is a factor in how long produce can be stored and sold after harvest.
Even at extremely low concentrations in the air, ethylene causes accelerated ripening and ageing. In fact, ethylene can cause these effects at concentrations of 1 part of ethylene in 10 million parts
of air!
Many plants produce ethylene themselves, which triggers the process of ripening throughout many tonnes of fruit. The old saying “One bad apple spoils the bunch” is in fact true – injured and damaged fruit produces more ethylene, causing spoilage in storage rooms and coolers. Ethylene production increases as temperature and respiration increase. Besides the ethylene produced by the produce itself, ethylene is generated in the exhaust from engines (truck and forklift motors), electrical equipment, fungi on rotting produce, smoke, and rubber.
Ethylene has been scientifically proven to cause:
• Accelerated ripening
• Accelerated ageing and decay
• Increase in respiration
• Water loss
• Reduction in nutrient content (e.g. loss of vitamin C)
• Yellowing or spotting
• Taste and aroma changes, and the creation of off-flavours such as bitterness
• Sprouting
How does PrimePro® work?
PrimePro® is a polyethylene plastic film containing a proprietary additive. This additive is specially designed to remove ethylene from the air around fresh produce. As ethylene is removed, the process of ripening and decay can be slowed, dramatically extending the shelf life of fresh produce.
Besides removing ethylene, PrimePro® is breathable, to allow the right exchange of gases through the package and prevent anaerobic bacterial infection.
It also contains an anti-fog additive to reduce the buildup of water droplets inside the package – a source of potential decay.
How is PrimePro® used?
PrimePro® film is made into:
• Carton liners
• Form-fill-and-seal rollstock
• Sheets
• Pallet covers
• Bags
Chantler Packaging custom-tailors the right PrimePro® package to suit the needs of individual growers. We take into account the harvesting process, cooling conditions, packing system, storage conditions and transport method and environment to create the right shelf life extension package.
Custom-sized PrimePro® carton liners are placed in cartons and produce is packed inside. The top is loosely folded closed.
Form-fill-and-seal rollstock can be applied by any machine capable of sealing polyethylene film.
Pre-cut sheets are sized to fit cartons. They are interleaved between layers of produce or placed in the carton before packing and folded over the top of the produce.
Pallet covers are cost-effective and easy to use. Simply place over a load of pre-cooled produce for a complete storage and shipping solution. No costly gas systems or airtight seals are needed.
Bags are ideal for retail produce and can be custom-printed for maximum marketing effectiveness. Custom features such as reclosable zippers are available for customer convenience.