CHICAGO, IL - The path to sustainability is becoming ever smoother to cross as innovators like Hazel Technologies continue to provide new technologies to extend the quality shelf-life of produce and fight food waste. Recently, the company teamed up with AMR Agro, one of the largest tropical growers in the Dominican Republic. Both companies are jointly reporting the successful implementation of Hazel Tech® solutions across their global product offering.
“The global impact that Hazel Technologies can make in the reduction of food waste is profound and what drives our company to continue to innovate and expand our reach,” commented Aidan Mouat, CEO, Hazel Technologies, “According to a recent report with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, tropicals show the fastest average annual growth rate among all internationally traded food commodities, developing more waste-reducing technologies for the tropical fruit supply chain is a top priority.”
As stated in the release, the Dominican Republic has positioned itself to increase its share of the global avocado market through marketing campaigns, production optimizations, and strategic exportation plans like the Executing Quality Export Program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These efforts are paying off, and the increased global demand means farms are looking for new ways to extend their supply.
AMR benefited from a 40 percent improvement in quality during the 2020 season, noted by a reduction of rejections at arrival and increased firmness. Now closing on its third year of partnership, AMR Agro confidently attributes its quality success to not only its experienced farm practices but also to the Hazel technology that was first introduced to the company’s operations in 2018.
“We started three years ago in commercial trials and have grown the program ever since,” commented Raul Reyes, Co-Owner of Dominican Republic-based AMR Agro. “Hazel Tech’s ability to tailor their easy-to-use solutions for various tropical commodities allows us to not only use Hazel Tech to protect our top selling products, but also enhance our export programs to long-distance locations like Spain, Holland, France, and [the] U.K.”
For international freight programs, extending shelf-life by double digits amounts to significant savings for both the shipper and receiver. During initial trials, Hazel Tech’s ability to protect the tropical avocados’ firmness foreshadowed the potential to positively impact AMR Agro’s bottom line for years to come.
Reyes commented that due to Hazel Tech being fully integrated throughout AMR Agro’s operations, “we see waste reduction savings of as much as $3,200 per container. Over the past three years, AMR shipped upwards of 300 containers worldwide; the value of Hazel translates to over $500K in savings and a more sustainable global environment.
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