Presents an easy plug-in business model for its edible coating that extends the life span of fresh produce
Tel Aviv – AgriTech start-up Sufresca has optimised its novel invisible edible coating designed to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce and expand its use to fit a range of fresh fruit and vegetables. Sufresca also shares the business model for its simple plug-in system to benefit retailers and growers.
Sufresca developed an edible, biodegradable, water-based emulsion composed of wholly natural food ingredients and inbuilt with advanced modified atmosphere properties. When applied to fresh fruit or vegetable, the solution creates a breathable coating. Minute disruptions within the coating act as a partial barrier that allows for optimal gas exchange. This slows down the post-harvest maturation and ripening processes and subsequent degradation and decay. It also solves the problems that come with using impermeable sealants.
The sustainable solution can extend shelf life by up to several weeks, saving plastic packaging and extending shipment time. This drastically reduces the loss of fresh produce on-route as well as in-shop waste. “The chaotic structure of our coating was inspired by the cuticle structures that naturally layer plants to protect them from extreme environmental conditions and water loss,” explains Efrat Boker-Ferri, CEO, Sufresca.
Sufresca developed a high-feasibility business model for the straightforward application of its solution into existing systems. This makes the coating solution an attractive, highly scalable, and convenient option for producers, distributors, and exporters of fresh produce in the early stages of the supply chain but can also be applied at the later stages.
