CHICAGO, IL - Shelf-life extension is an issue that sits front and center in the fresh produce industry, and in an effort to push innovation in that field, Hazel Technologies recently welcomed Minos Athanassiadis to its advisory council. Minos comes to Hazel Technologies, a USDA-supported company, as a fresh produce industry pioneer, with a history of introducing new technologies to some of the world’s largest produce grower shippers over the past three decades.
"In more than 30 years working in the produce industry, I've seen quite a few post-harvest technology companies come and go–Hazel is the first I'm really excited about,” said Minos Athanassiadis, Advisory Board Member with Hazel Technologies, according to a press release. “Their solutions are already being used by leading grower-shippers in multiple regions and categories to save up to thousands of dollars per load and compete in new markets."
Athanassiadis’ accomplishments, starting in the early 1980’s, include commercializing packaged salads with Dole Fresh Vegetables, working over a decade as a specialty produce grower and more than 15 years as a consultant in agriculture technology for leading companies like John Deere and Monsanto. His role at Hazel Technologies will include advising on product development and assisting with the commercial rollouts of the numerous category leading grower-packers, like DFI Marketing, that have started to use the company’s products in their packing houses this season.
“We are delighted to introduce Minos as an Advisory Council Member. He not only has a long track record of introducing valuable new innovations to grower-shippers, but he also has spent over a decade as a grower of specialty produce,” said Pat Flynn, Co-founder and CMO. “Minos understands the challenges grower-shipper’s face and how our technology helps increase grower-shipper bottom-lines. With Minos’ guidance, we’re confident that widespread adoption of our technology will continue.”
Athanassiadis’ role with the company comes at an opportune time alongside the company's partnership with Fresno, CA based DFI Marketing–a premier brand in the fresh melon category. Support from both Athanassiadis and DFI Marketing have validated the brand’s ability to provide new and unique solutions to the industry that work.
