NASHVILLE, TN - Just as an umbrella works as a barrier between us and the pouring rain, Startchy’s new solution Yumbrella® keeps produce protected from the factors that cause it to spoil. Announcing its official launch Stateside, the organic washable coating will be available to the apple industry, having been commercially tested over recent months with Superfresh Growers®.
"We’ve used and tested a variety of coatings over the years, but none that have started by saying how it helps growers reduce cost and warehouse loss,” Robert Kershaw, Chief Executive Officer of Superfresh Growers said. “The Yumbrella team’s commitment to the entire supply chain—in addition to its global mission—actually makes this a more sustainable product for everyone involved and we are already seeing the bigger opportunity.”
Yumbrella is made with common food ingredients and is USDA, Canada, and EU certified organic, a press release noted. After years of research and development, commercial testing has been completed with not only Superfresh Growers, but other national retailers ahead of its market unveiling.
The unique coating was created with growers’ needs in mind, and built on the foundation of affordability. This mission has resulted in what Yumbrella refers to as “invention born out of necessity,” which aims to solve a high-tech problem with a low-tech solution.
“This product has always offered unique market potential because it set out to put the grower first, with benefits outweighing its cost and the fact that it is a drop-in replacement for existing coating infrastructure,” Seth Shumate, CEO of Yumbrella commented. “Coated fruit lasts longer at the packhouse, at retail, and at home which makes for a better eating experience.”
One of the key features of Yumbrella is its ease of application. The solution uses common food ingredients and lacks expensive licensing fees, so Yumbrella is able to meet the demands of large and small growers with no pricey equipment or application protocols.
In addition to affordability, Yumbrella also offers adaptable recipes such as a natural finish for organic application as well as an attractive high-gloss formula for conventional apples.
“The produce industry has no shortage of fruit and vegetable coatings, but it has long been lacking an affordable and customizable organic solution,” remarked Andy Tudor of AT Ag Consulting and Consultant/Director of Business Development for Yumbrella. “Most importantly, this product meets the needs of everyone in the supply chain, including the grower, while still offering consumers a product that can easily be washed off with water, unlike wax, or other coating chemicals that interfere with taste.”
Currently, Yumbrella is being tested on a variety of additional commodities including citrus and avocados.
As more developments on this new solution become available, AndNowUKnow will report.
