Miami — Hazel Technologies Inc., a company developing new, USDA-funded post-harvest technologies to extend shelf-life in fresh produce, announces successful commercial results with multiple leading distributors of tropical fruit. Results include up to 5 days longer shelf-life, reduced shrink rates of up to 50%, and higher sales in several tropical categories, including guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit, “green-skin” avocado, and starfruit.
Companies using Hazel Tech’s USDA-funded post-harvest product line for tropicals include Miami, FL-based WP Produce, the largest tropical avocado distributor in the world, McAllen, TX-based Sweet Seasons LLC, one of the largest tropical fruit importers from Mexico to the U.S. and Canada, and Los Alamitos, CA-based Frieda’s Specialty Produce, one of the largest distributors of tropical produce in the world.
Tropical fruits are especially challenging perishable items to maintain at peak quality. When shipping fruit long distances or after cold-chain breaks, tropicals often have arrival claims, which result in lower sales and higher amounts of food waste. Hazel® is a quarter-sized biodegradable and food-safe packaging insert that is placed in the box during packing which extends the shelf life of a variety of fresh produce items. The new technology has been validated by researchers at universities such as UC-Davis and Cornell University.
“We’ve seen tremendous increases in the shelf life of our Desbry Tropical Avocados with Hazel’s active technology,” commented Chris Gonzalez, Vice President at WP Produce. “We’ve received great feedback from retailers who appreciate the reduced shrink the additional 4-5 days of shelf life offers. This technology is especially useful in protecting our Tropical Avocados on longer transit times to Canada, the West Coast and the Caribbean.”
“Working with Hazel Tech´s easy-to-use solution allows us to consistently deliver high-quality tropicals,” added Allen DeMo, Director of Procurement and Sourcing at Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
“Sweet Seasons exports a large range of tropicals over long distances, and since we started working with Hazel®, we have seen a 50% reduction in product shrink.” said Marina Bernal, Owner at Sweet Seasons Produce.
“Hazel Tech is fast and an easy-to-use solution for tropical fruit growers, packers, and retailers to maintain longer shelf life, reduce food waste, and increase category sales,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO of Hazel Technologies, Inc.
To learn more, e-mail pat@hazeltechnologies.com or visit www.hazeltechnologies.com.
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About Hazel Technologies, Inc.:
Hazel Technologies is a USDA-funded startup company that develops new technologies to extend the quality shelf life of fresh produce. Founded in 2015, Hazel Tech® works with over 100 of the largest fresh produce packers, shippers, and retailers in the US and Latin America to reduce food waste, reduce inventory shrink, and increase sales. For more information, visit us at www.hazeltechnologies.com today!
About WP Produce:
Founded in 1984, WP Produce is a family-owned, multi-regional grower, packer and shipper of tropical, exotic produce. WP Produce has been a pioneer in the Tropical Avocado market since 1992 and are now the largest importer and distributor of Dominican Tropical Avocados worldwide. With farms and partnerships with growers in Florida and the Dominican Republic, WP Produce offers a wide variety of tropical produce and root vegetables under the Desbry brand. To learn more, visit www.wpproduce.com.
About Sweet Seasons, LLC:
Founded in 2009, Sweet Seasons LLC is a year-round importer and distributor of tropical fruit, peppers, exotics, and vegetables to the United States and Canada. Our mission is to supply customers timely and with the highest quality fresh fruits and vegetables imported from Mexico. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/SweetSeasonsLLC.
About Frieda’s Specialty Produce:
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families, and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit, to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce, and www.Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.
