Hey YODL community,
If you follow my colleague @Nestor Gomez or I on LinkedIn, you may have come across our Thursday Thoughts on Foodtech series. Each week we highlight a new foodtech discovery, innovation, company or collab that has caught our interest. Now adding our posts on YODL as well to broaden the reach and foster discussions with this great community of CFIN members who are also passionate about the intersection of food, technology and innovation. We'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've had success overcoming industry challenges with these technologies - or perhaps you've found success through other innovations?
Now on to today's post!
🥦🥦It's that time of year where I look at seed packet displays and have visions of bountiful harvests. Last year I learned that if you don't thin your carrots, you end up with rather whimsical, twisted carrot sculptures. Is this the year I try broccoli?
🧊Broccoli is frequently packed in ice after harvesting to preserve its freshness and extend its shelf life during transportation and storage. The ice creates a low temp environment that slows down ripening and decay, but reliance on ice presents logistical challenges, such as needing specialized equipment, and environmental concerns related to transporting heavy loads. Are there alternatives in the works?❄️
📦Developed by Verdant Technologies, HarvestHold is a sheet that releases 1-MCP, an active ingredient that blocks ethylene, the compound responsible for ripening. Using this technology, growers and retailers can save up to 13,000 liters of water per truckload, contributing to a more sustainable supply chain.
Sobey's has embraced this technology, piloting it successfully in Ontario and Quebec and now expanding its implementation nationwide.
🍁In Canada, researchers and companies are actively exploring homegrown solutions to address the challenge as well. Companies like BC-based iFood Systems have developed hermetically sealed cartons embedded with technology to regulate the interior atmosphere. Beyond extending shelf life, their active packaging innovation also offers the potential to reduce harmful pathogens, further enhancing food safety and quality. Reach out to @Perry Lidster for more info!
Are you a produce packer who has experimented with these technologies? Share your success story with us!
BTW I haven't started any broccoli seeds, seems to advanced for me. But I do have cucamelon that I got from my neighborhood travelling seed library!
Image credit Dall-e