FRUIT LOGISTICA Spotlights – Find out tomorrow’s trends today

Global issues such as climate action, resource shortages and a lack of skilled labour impact many sectors of the economy, including the fruit trade. The ongoing technological development of production processes, from planting and harvesting to sorting, packaging and logistics, is one answer to these problems.

AI-based systems provide important support. For example, Ripe Wise from Experience Fruit Quality and De Laat Koudetechniek monitors the ripening process of fruit such as avocados, mangoes and bananas.

Raytec Vision uses AI for sorting. With Opportunity, the company has developed an optical sorter for peeled tomatoes, potatoes and peeled boiled eggs. State-of-the-art AI algorithms in combination with high-resolution optical sensors achieve optimum precision.

ABZ Innovation’s drones are even more precise thanks to advanced scanner technology. A LiDAR-based situational awareness system helps them to detect obstacles. The drones are thus able to maintain the correct distance for efficient crop-spraying.

Reliable forecasts

How do the apples taste? When is the right time to harvest? Innovative technology can help to answer these questions. The FMS-H apple scanner is the latest innovation in the Fresco Microwave Sensing range of products. The handheld sensor can accurately measure the internal quality of apples, such as brix, firmness or titratable acidity. The results help to optimise shelf life.

Source Cultivate makes it easier to forecast yields. Based on real-time measurements, it makes accurate predictions on plant growth and development up to eight weeks in advance.

Compostable packaging

It is hard to believe that the annual volume of fruit pads used in the UK alone would be enough to cover almost half a million tennis courts.

With the ECHO Pad, Elliott Absorbent Products is launching new fruit pads which are fully recyclable and compostable. Made from cellulose, they can extend the shelf life of berries by twelve hours.

The Sinclair T55 compostable kiwifruit label is similarly eco-friendly. The kiwifruit marketing company Zespri International and labelling specialist Sinclair International have joined forces to develop a biodegradable solution that leaves no harmful residues in the environment.

This also applies to LifeBag from SMP. The bag is made of 100 per cent biodegradable, compostable and food-safe plastic and can extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables by up to four times.

Healthy snacks

Product innovations such as PEA-A-MOLE from Anecoop and Janus Fruit encourage simple preparation of healthy food. The protein-rich vegetable spread is based on avocados, which the manufacturer has combined with peas and a refreshing citrus flavour. It consists of 95 per cent fresh ingredients and contains less fat and fewer calories than traditional guacamole.

’Shake and enjoy’ is what Landjuweel's microwaveable, flavoured PeeperPops are all about. The baby potatoes take just eight minutes to cook in a microwave oven and are available in four flavours: Taste of Italy, Taste of India, Taste of Argentina und Taste of Texas.

De Terp Squashpackers is bringing a new product to FRUIT LOGISTICA: packaged pumpkin slices. They are suitable for baking and cooking and are purposely sold with their nutritious and tasty skin.

The FRUIT LOGISTICA Spotlights are an edited compilation and available in German and English. An overview of all Spotlights can be found here.