Success of the system at the Portuguese fruit and vegetable plant Primofruta
At Citrosol, we continue to advance in solutions that guarantee food safety and sustainability in post-harvest processes. Together with our distributor in Portugal, Nutea, we have been implementing the Citrocide® Fresh-Fruit System for more than a year in the facilities of Primofruta Sociedad Hortofrutícola, dedicated to the processing of pears and apples. The results obtained have been highly satisfactory, both in terms of efficiency in water disinfection and in the reduction of post-harvest rotting.
Primofruta has noted significant improvements in the hygienic quality of its tipping basin, thanks to the continuous and controlled application of the system. This has resulted in greater food safety and a lower incidence of phytopathological problems, even in a context where the use of post-harvest fungicides is being progressively restricted.
Hygienic guarantee in process water
Water used in postharvest processes represents one of the main vectors of microbiological contamination in fresh fruits and vegetables. Prolonged use of the same water without adequate disinfection significantly increases the risk, not only for the consumer's health, but also for the quality and shelf life of the product.
In line with the recent recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Citrosol promotes the use of effective disinfection technologies as an essential tool to guarantee water safety in the processing of fruit and vegetable products.
Citrocide® Fresh-Fruit: sustainable innovation
Our Citrocide® Fresh-Fruit system allows continuous, real-time monitoring of the disinfection process, ensuring that the process water maintains an optimal concentration of Citrocide® disinfectant. This system stands out for its ability to maintain hygiene without generating by-products that are toxic to people and the environment.
In addition, Citrocide® is certified as an input suitable for organic farming, both according to European and U.S. regulations, making it an ideal solution for companies committed to sustainability.
Figure 1: evolution of contamination in two apple dumping ponds, one WITHOUT disinfection and the other WITH the Citrocide® Fresh-Fruit System (cfu/ml = colony forming units of fungi and yeasts per ml of water).
Looking to the future
For the next season, we will continue to collaborate with Nutea to extend the use of the Citrocide® Fresh-Fruit System to more fruit and vegetable plants in Portugal, thus consolidating our commitment to innovation, food safety and respect for the environment.
Citrosol - Post-harvest technology for a safer and more sustainable world.
