A range comprising Fung-Cid Bio BP to be used in drenchers and “drench on line” for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties as an effective tool against decay plus Citrocide® Plus and Citrocide® PC disinfectants for washing fruit and vegetable produce preventing cross-microbiological contamination and maintaining the washing machine’s water hygienically clean, making it a Critical Control Point (CCP).
“The sector is in dire need of effective and sustainable environmentally friendly solutions; alternative treatments with Bio certification. Alternatives to the traditional solutions, and not only for citrus produce, other fruit and vegetables too. We saw this at Fruit Attraction 2019 with Citrocide® Systems for both fresh fruit and minimally processed produce, where the market trend is to seek alternatives to disinfection with chlorine”, reported the Product Manager of Citrocide® systems.
The Biocare range is completed with the market’s first ecological wax: Citrosol AK BIO. It is a natural carnauba wax coating with a superior shine and excellent control over weight loss, which holds off senescence by reducing perspiration and respiration in the fruit.
“In citrus fruit, it can be seen that interest in solutions offering improved decay control is growing, but solutions with fewer active substances, even with treatments which do not leave residues of conventional fungicides,” explained the Technical Director at Citrosol, “more effective decay control solutions are sought, but at the same time resource use needs to be more efficient, resulting in a lower environmental impact ”.
One of the recurring topics of conversation with operators during this edition of Fruit Attraction was the reduced availability of active materials. In this case, the protagonist due to its imminent disappearance was Propiconazole and the difficulties generated by its elimination both in the treatment and packaging lines and in the field packaging, as this active material is long lasting. “Fortunately, at Citrosol we have been working on the elimination of these residues with very effective results that avoid the appearance of traces in multi-residue analyzes, successfully overcoming a serious problem for our clients” commented the Citrosol’s Quality and Regulatory Control Director.
Jorge Bretó, Operations Director at Citrosol, confirmed our company commitment to search for sustainable technological solutions: “Good examples are our low drying temperature waxes, Citrocide® Systems and now the new Biocare products. Our objective is to continue along this path and we hope to be able to launch new technology, currently under development in this regard, in the near future ”.
Easy Kit® update
The portable Easy Kit® laboratory – which allows rapid, on-site, analysis of the principal post-harvest fungicides – caused a sensation at Fruit Attraction two years ago when launched at the Madrid fair. It has now been updated; welcome version 2 of the Easy Kit®.
“The changes have to do with facilitating sample preparation by making it easier to use dilutions, substituting some laboratory materials and readjusting some test parameters to better adapt to the real world experience of the analyses carried out by the clients. In short, these are inherent improvements to an innovative technique such as Easy Kit® to adjust its implementation in the post-harvest sector to better respond to the real world”, says Juanjo Ferrandis, Product Manager of this tool which quickly measures fungicide residues on the fruit even before shipping the merchandise.
The Easy Kit® is a great advance to avoid exceeding the MRLs set by the destination markets, making it possible to correct them there and then at the packing house.
aqUAFRESH and the new Citrocide® Fresh-Cut system
The European project aqUAFRESH has reached its final stretch after successful pilot tests on the Vega Mayor fresh cut washers. “We are still analyzing the results, but we can say confidently that the Citrocide® Fresh-Cut System solution is absolutely viable, both technically and economically, for the minimally processed sector, and that they will soon be able to start using it ”, confirmed the Product Manager of Citrocide Systems.
“The sector is in dire need of effective and sustainable environmentally friendly solutions; alternative treatments with Bio certification. Alternatives to the traditional solutions, and not only for citrus produce, other fruit and vegetables too. We saw this at Fruit Attraction 2019 with Citrocide® Systems for both fresh fruit and minimally processed produce, where the market trend is to seek alternatives to disinfection with chlorine”, reported the Product Manager of Citrocide® systems.
Minimally Processed and Fresh Cut foods are constantly evolving. Citrosol has received a large number of inquiries at its Fruit Attraction stand to learn about the functionalities of the new Citrocide® Fresh-Cut System as there is a real need within the sector to implement disinfectants that do not generate disinfection by-products that may be harmful to people or to the environment, DBP’s such as trihalomethanes and chlorates. In this sense, it can be seen that a change of trend is taking place in the market and that it is now firmly betting on alternative solutions to the use of chlorine.
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