Science for business
Groundbreaking Technology for Monitoring Perishables Supermarkets
are stocking more and more perishables, many of which are available year-round. A new technology which accurately predicts these products’ shelf-life can help to reduce food waste while guaranteeing top quality fresh produce. Fresh produce is becoming more and more popular with consumers, so supermarkets have been expanding their produce sections to meet demand. But the quality and shelf-life of perishables like fruit and vegetables are notoriously difficult to manage, leading to a great deal of waste. “Losses in perishables are huge, so there’s a world to gain there. And all the more so in light of the current debate on food waste,” said Toine Timmermans, Program Manager of Sustainable Food Chains at FBR (Food & Biobased Research), Wageningen University and Research Centre. It is particularly difficult to maintain the quality and determine the shelf-life of soft fruits such as
avocados, grapes, strawberries, mangoes and melons. Timmermans: “Add to that the fact that products must be available year-round and is therefore sourced from all over the world. Take grapes, for example. Those used to be available only in October, after the harvest in the Netherlands. Now, we import them from Chile, South Africa, India and Greece. Importers are constantly weighing their options: should they continue importing from Chile for a few more weeks, or switch to India right away? Such decisions carry risks in terms of consistent quality, because there can be a big difference between one batch and the next. Supermarkets are struggling