Frutas Apemar, based in Alquerías (Murcia, Spain), is one of the most important Spanish companies in the lemon and grapefruit market, with a production of over 30,000 tons per annum, supplying produce to their customers 365 days a year.
Frutas Apemar’s quality system is underpinned by two principal factors; exercising direct control over the crop (GlobalGAP) and undertaking exhaustive controls in the selection, packaging, marketing and transport (ISO, HACCF1 BRC standards) of their perishable produce. Following these rules, Frutas Apemar are able to guarantee their quality standards from cultivation through to final destination, thanks to Citrosol, a strategic ally in their treatments, indispensable in guaranteeing food safety and the post-harvest shelf life of the lemon and grapefruit produce.
The ‘precision post-harvest’
Citrosol’s sponsorship of this international course has been complemented by a technical presentation by the CEO of the Valencian company, Benito Orihuel, under the title ‘Principles and effects of chemical control over post-harvest decay’.
Orihuel addressed some very contemporary issues such as the proliferation in the “fake news” sector of those that, without scientific backup, speak of formulations (waxes with Sorbate K or other food additives) capable of achieving efficiencies greater than 70% against Penicillium on fruit stored for 15 days.
Benito Orihuel also outlined the route taken by Citrosol promoting ‘precision post-harvest’ technologies as a response to the limited availability of tools being produced in the sector: “The disappearance of Guazatine, following that of Prochloraz closely followed by Propiconazole has meant, and will mean even more so in the future, that some major improvements need to be made in technologies and treatments for the proper control of citrus decay. ”
“We have never needed to use Propiconazole, as our clients never suffered Geotrichum decay problems,” added Orihuel.
The concept of the ‘precision post-harvest’ promoted in recent years by Citrosol started with Citrosol Vertido Cero®, a revolution in the global post-harvest sector that has brought improvements in the precision and robustness of application equipment implementing 4.0 technology. With it the precision of the application has been markedly improved.
The 14th International University Degree Course in ‘Postharvest Technology for Minimal Processing’, organized, in March, by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) and sponsored by Citrosol, has awarded a leading role to our client, Frutas Apemar from Murcia. The company with more than 60 years behind it served as an example to students, technicians and researchers who all experienced Citrosol’s ‘precision post-harvest’ being implemented on site during a visit to their facilities.
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