Active Packaging Breakthrough Effectively Extends Pear Shelf Life

Trials from Argentina have revealed that an innovative MCPBag® — active packaging that releases the freshness-protecting compound 1-MCP directly inside each bag, offers growers and retailers a powerful new way to reduce waste and extend shelf life across long supply chains, where pears often soften and lose value within just days after packing.

New solution

Trials showed that William’s pears (Pyrus communis L.) packed in MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ technology ripened significantly slower than those in standard packaging. Results from university testing showed that using the MCPBag during fruit packing and then storing the pears for as short a time as 4 days or up to 120 days in regular atmosphere storage and then 8 days at room temperature significantly reduced ethylene production by 2.7 fold from 218 units in the normal bags used by packers to about 80 units of ethylene with the MCPBag.

“With Vidre+™ technology implemented in MCPBag®, we are not just slowing ripening — we’re redefining what a fruit package can do. With this technology, we’ve proven that even high-respiration fruit like pears respond to smart, targeted 1-MCP delivery, giving packers a tremendous new tool for managing freshness throughout the supply chain. This technology turns a bag or tray into a freshness system, without needing sealed rooms or heavy infrastructure,” says Tim Malefyt, Chief Technology Officer at Fresh Inset.

MCPBag® in action

MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ technology, provides a small coated surface of a controlled-release 1-MCP inside fruit-specific packaging. This packaging then gradually releases 1-MCP over a 24-hour period, inhibiting ethylene response and thereby slowing ripening and softening of the fruits.

Vidre+™, developed by Fresh Inset, takes this concept further: a low-cost sticker or label placed inside the existing carton, clamshell, or bag releases 1-MCP over time, enabling active shelf-life extension inside the pack without requiring specialized treatment rooms or additional CAPEX. According to Fresh Inset, the technology could reduce global fruit and vegetable waste by up to 9.46 million tonnes annually.

Research results:

The research was carried out by IDC Patagonia in Argentina, testing how pears behave when packed in 1-MCP Bags versus regular bags during short-term (4 days) and long-term (120 days) cold storage.  After storage, pears were exposed to room temperature shelf life testing.  Regardless of storage time, pears in standard bags started to ripen quickly — producing much more ethylene, the natural gas that triggers softening and yellowing. Those kept in MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ released 60% less ethylene after 8 days, staying firmer and greener for much longer. The result of using the MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ was noticeably firmer fruit that held its color better, while untreated fruit was already soft and yellow. MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ slowed the ripening process and extended shelf life by 8 days for the short-term storage and 4-5 days for the long-term storage period.

Key conclusions:

• Pears packed in MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™ effectively reduced ethylene production within the fruit, thereby significantly slowing the pear ripening rate.
• Pears stored in MCPBag® powered by Vidre+™  extended shelf life by 4-8 days longer than those in standard bags, which softened at a much faster rate. Vidre+™ also maintained optimum eating ripeness longer than those in standard bags.

DISCLAIMER

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from IDCPatagonia (Las Acacias 1062, Cipolletti, RN, Argentina) — L. Vita, N. Gonzalez, and P. Rebolledo — in collaboration with C. Franco from Wassington Agro SACIFEI (Gualeguaychú 2068, Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, Argentina). The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the fruit farm “El Chiche” and Agr. Eng. Raquel Brevi.

The results presented in this press release are based on a single study. Please note that these are preliminary findings. Additional studies may provide further insights and perspectives.

About Fresh Inset

Fresh Inset S.A. (joint-stock company) is a food- tech from Toruń, Poland founded in 2017 by scientists from Synthex Technologies and developed by an international team that consists of a group of experienced scientists, agronomists, engineers, packaging sector experts, and IP lawyers around the globe, in such countries as the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Poland. The company has developed and patented a unique Vidre+™ technology for extending the freshness of harvested fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The Company’s product has been patented in more than 50 countries. Fresh Inset is a member of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and Greentown Labs.

Vidre+™ is the breakthrough next-generation application of 1-MCP technology, which exponentially expands the benefits of produce preservation by mitigating the effects of ethylene. The research conducted on 5 continents proves that the technology works on various crops and varieties from avocados to grapes, limes, pears, tomatoes, peppers, and many more. Vidre+™ brings a timed and gradual release mechanism that allows produce to be treated by 1-MCP directly in packaging, eliminating the need for a 24-hour application in a sealed storage room or air-tight containers.