Fyffes banana farm Finca Esmeralda is one of the first in Costa Rica to implement a closed-water recycling system, which has successfully reduced water consumption from 200 to 40 litres per box of bananas.
This World Water Day, Fyffes is pleased to share the technique deployed to reduce water consumption during the banana packing process. The process involves using various tanks and stages so water can be reused while maintaining the highest levels of sanitation and cleanliness.
The biggest challenge with reusing water is removing latex; a naturally occurring protein which leaches from the bananas while they sit in aptly named ‘de-latexing’ water tanks, before being de-handed and getting placed on selection trays.
Speaking in more detail about the process, Hugo Hays, Fyffes Global Director for Food Safety and Compliance said “the water coming out of these tanks runs along an off-flow drain and organic matter gets removed from the water using wire screens. Next the water travels down a ramp called a ‘hydraulic leap’, gathering speed and turbulence at which point we add Alum.
“Alum, or Aluminate Sulphate is a mineral frequently used in conventional water purification processes to remove suspended particles in the water. By adding Alum it causes the latex in the water to flocculate (cluster/clump together) and precipitate to the bottom of the water column.
“The water then makes its way to the flocculation tank. This is a cleverly designed tank where a zigzag path is followed by the water, traveling with speed at first (to ensure the Alum and water thoroughly mix) but gradually slows, allowing the floccules to form. The water then enters the settler tank at very slow speed.
“Here, the flocculates settle at the bottom of the tank, leaving clean water on top, ready to be used again. Finally, the clean water is skimmed off and collects in a reservoir tank ready to be reused. A small amount of chlorine is added to the water before, once again, re-entering the de-latexing tanks.
“The flocculated material from the bottom of the settler tank gets collected and placed in a separate tank which consists of a filter system, allowing excess water to drain off and return to the recycling system. The latex-alum residue which remains is then suitable as a fertilizer in the field.”
Water conservation is a pillar of Fyffes sustainability strategy and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for clean water and sanitation.
About Fyffes
Fyffes Limited is a leading international importer and distributor of quality tropical produce and mushrooms headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Founded over 130 years ago, Fyffes is the world’s oldest fruit brand. Fyffes has trading, farming and export operations in Europe, North, Central and South America, with long established trading relationships with grower groups in Central and South America. The company’s primary activities include production, procurement, shipping, ripening, distribution and marketing of bananas, pineapples, melons and mushrooms. A commitment to the principles of corporate responsibility is at the heart of the Fyffes brand, which has been recognized with numerous international certifications for best practices in social, environmental and general sustainability issues. Fyffes is the number 1 importer of bananas and the leading marketer of organic and Fairtrade bananas to Europe, as well as the importer with the world’s highest number of Global G.A.P. certified production partners. Fyffes has been a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation since 2017. www.fyffes.com
