As the fresh food industry becomes increasingly fast-paced and focused on quality, it’s essential to recognise that maintaining the freshness of fresh produce isn’t just a goal; it’s a science. The time-sensitive journey in the cold chain begins when the fruit and vegetables are harvested. Once fresh produce enters the cold chain, any deviation from good hygiene practices, temperature fluctuations, or changes in air quality can affect the integrity of the product.
On the Farm: Treating Water at Source
It all starts with the water. The farm’s irrigation and washing water is often the first contact with fresh produce and also the first point of contact for pathogens and contaminants. Biozone’s borehole water treatment and purification systems combine ozone and advanced oxidation to ensure that the water used during harvest and pre-cooling is sterile, safe, and compliant with food safety standards.
Benefits:
- Elimination of bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals from borehole and surface water
- Reduction of mould and spoilage at the early stages
- Safer water for cleaning and handling produce
In the Packhouse: Air & Surface Sterilisation with Ozonated Water
The stakes are even higher in the packhouse. A high volume flows through the sorting, grading, and packing areas, so controlling airborne and surface-level contamination is critical. Biozone provides EcoBlaster ozone generators and ozonated water rinsing systems designed to sterilise conveyor belts, equipment, air space, and packaging materials without harsh chemicals.
Benefits:
- Disinfects equipment and surfaces in real time
- Control of airborne bacteria, pathogens, and mould
- Improved compliance with HACCP and Global GAP
During Transportation: Clean air, travelling with your produce
The journey of produce doesn’t stop with packaging. Even using refrigerated vehicles will not guarantee its freshness; optically good produce is not the same as fresh produce. One of the most significant threats to freshness in refrigerated transport is ethylene gas, a byproduct of ripening. The product’s shelf life is quickly diminished if the ethylene is not neutralised.
Biozone can install small ozone units into refrigerated trucks, neutralising ethylene gas and creating a sterile environment with clean air throughout the transport process.
Benefits:
- Minimises the risk of cross-contamination of pathogens and mould between loads.
- Prevents ethylene from building up.
- Extends the window of freshness.
In Distribution Centres: Managing microbial load in storage
Distribution centres allow bulk produce storage before retail distribution — this is where the disinfection system should be used for the storage space. It is vital to provide disinfection because we don’t know how much mould and bacteria have built up. Like in ripening rooms, the Biozone respirators also manage ethylene levels to help ensure the fruit ripens predictably without waste and spoilage.
In retail, the last-mile freshness that consumers enjoy
At the retail stage, freshness is not only about the quality of the product but also about the perception behind that quality. It could make it look good but smell bad. There is trust when seeing and smelling freshness. A little magic is required when producing the in-store air treatment unit to quietly ensure the backrooms, chillers, and display areas remain clean and odour-free.
Cleaning the air and surface space at the retail level means:
- Reduction in shrinkage and spoilage
- Improved shelf appeal and product life
- Confidence in food safety control measures
Why Biozone? A seamless cold chain solution
Unlike other stand-alone units, Biozone technology was developed to intertwine with each part of the cold chain and be tailored to farms, pack houses, transporters, and retailers. Biozone systems are chemical-free, cost-effective, and food-safe.
Talk to our team about integrating disinfecting into your cold chain.
Biozone can freely and effectively support farms, packhouses, transporters, and retailers.
Consult the Biozone staff recommendations on managing a packhouse, quality control measures, and a retail operation.
[email protected] Phone 011 791 4403.