ST PAUL, MN - There are certain milestones in the history of a company that stand out as key markers of growth, and Verdant Technologies has reached one of those indicators. After recently receiving Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration, the innovator has announced that its HarvestHold™ Fresh product shelf-life extender solution will be available to the produce industry in the U.S.
“We are thrilled to achieve this major milestone with HarvestHold,” said Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer. “This product has been in development for some time and trialed extensively as a solution to decrease environmental losses and increase financial performance for customers in perishable supply chains. Our initial conversations and commercial trials with potential customers have been incredibly promising. The market is ripe for innovation, and HarvestHold offers a revolutionary change in ease of use, flexibility, consistency and targeted delivery of 1-MCP with significant efficacy proven on a variety of fruits and vegetables.”
HarvestHold is a 1-MCP-based post-harvest solution that works to extend the shelf-life of fruits, vegetables, and flowers by an average of 40–50 percent, according to a press release. The solution will also help to reduce waste in the perishable supply chain.
Currently, Verdant is planning to offer HarvestHold in all fifty states across the U.S. and in many countries globally, with product availability following individual state and country approvals. The company’s HarvestHold Bloom, made to extend the life of flowers, was made available in global markets in late 2020.
“Customers have been eager to trial our product in their own packing operations. HarvestHold is an enticing offer: Protect your investment, provide superior product and easily incorporate into existing packing operations,” added Robertson. “Time is money, and HarvestHold adds days to the clock while also simplifying the application method and improving the reliability and efficacy of this proven shelf-life stabilization technology.”
The HarvestHold solution contains the active ingredient 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene), which has been used long-term to block ethylene, the plant hormone that stimulates ripening of produce. 1-MCP is approved by the EPA and regarded as safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union, and more than 30 other countries worldwide.
Verdant’s innovative solution uses a proprietary, patented 1-MCP delivery and activation system that can be printed on a variety of packing materials including plastic sheets, paper stock, and labels. As fresh produce is harvested, growers and packers can insert the sheet of HarvestHold into the box and it is activated by plant respiration and humidity, requiring no water, special handling, or complicated application. HarvestHold can then be reapplied if desired at any point in the supply chain.
“Our team has been focused on freshness for decades and the launch of HarvestHold in the produce market has substantial implications for the industry. Improved freshness provides more value and supports a more sustainable future,” said Jon Fobes, Chief Scientific and Technology Officer. “At a time when supply chains are especially stressed, HarvestHold offers a solution to alleviate some of the pressure. Everyone is working as hard as they can to put high quality products on the table and make what they have last longer. From growers to retailers to consumers, HarvestHold can help make the most of everyone’s efforts.”
HarvestHold offers a key solution to the growing effects of food waste on the environment and the supply chain. By providing protection and maximizing freshness, growers, distributors, and retailers are given a reliable tool to ensure their products reach consumers as intended. Overall, HarvestHold extends product life, reduces shrink, and improves profitability for buy- and supply-sides.
Helping Verdant’s expansion, the company was acquired by Gulftech in June 2021, and has since rapidly scaled growth across the United States, Mexico, and Colombia.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for us. We are ramping up activity in all areas, working to hire top talent as quickly as we can to support our expansion and provide excellent products and service to our customers,” Robertson continued.
With its foot in the U.S. market, what will be the next move for Verdant Technolgies? Stick with AndNowUKnow for the answers to that and more.
