OXNARD, CA & CHICAGO, IL - After many years of active research on several new post-harvest shelf-life extension solutions for avocados, Mission Produce has announced a partnership with Hazel Technologies which has be in testing for over a year.
“This partnership demonstrates Mission Produce’s dedication to quality, innovation, and growth, and Hazel’s® commitment to post-harvest solutions in the produce industry,” said Steve Barnard, Mission’s President and CEO. “Our partnership with Hazel Technologies strengthens our position in the industry.”
As part of the collaboration, Mission Produce will continue to test (with the aim to integrate) Hazel Technologies' USDA-funded packaging solution across its global supply chain to reduce waste and shrinkage, according to a press release.
“We decided to collaborate with Hazel Technologies because in our initial year of testing, the company’s solutions proved to increase the shelf-life of both hard and ripe avocados, maintain and extend the internal quality of the fruit, and minimize the operational impact to the supply chain. However, the main benefit of the partnership is working together to reduce global food waste,” said Patrick Cortes, Senior Director of Business Development for Mission.
The company added that, in addition to enhancing the eating experience and shelf-life, it wants to reduce customer throwaways, in turn increasing profits, and ultimately drive category growth.
“Mission Produce is always looking ahead,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO and Co-Founder of Hazel Technologies. “Considering the demand for avocados, we could not have chosen a better partner.”
After over a year of research and trials with Hazel Technologies' packaging inserts, Mission Produce said it saw an increase in the shelf-life of both hard and ripe avocados when including the new technology. In several different settings, Mission Produce conducted studies using Hazel 1-MCP technology, and the results were consistent: the avocados experienced extended shelf-life and internal quality.
The technology, which is funded by the USDA, is a quarter-sized biodegradable and food-safe packaging insert that is placed in the box.
“Our premier technology effectively reduces waste and shrink in an easy-to-integrate fashion. Because of the packet’s ease of use, there is little impact to the efficiency of the supply chain,” Mouat said.
The packet can be applied in various environments such as at source, during packaging, or at Mission Produce’s distribution centers, the release said, combining to provide solutions in many aspects; shelf-life extension, ease of application, limited supply chain disruption, and an improved customer experience.
“Combining Hazel Technologies’ solutions with Mission Produce’s advanced avocado network means that together we can continue to provide the world’s finest avocados to consumers worldwide,” concludes Cortes.
As one of the world’s leading producers, distributors, and marketers of fresh Hass avocados, Mission noted that Hazel's collaboration confirms that the duo are eager to remain at the top.
