“We provide remote, in-transit corrective actions to containerized shipments.” All year long, vessels shipping fresh produce are moving all over the globe and are in some cases out to sea for a time frame of 30 days or more. Importers, shippers, traders, also called beneficial cargo owners, all want their produce to arrive at the destination in excellent condition for optimum shelf-life and quality product.

“Costa Rica is a world leader in producing high-quality pineapples that have a good shelf-life and travel well,” says Christian DeBlasio with Purfresh. Not only does the country have the technology to produce them efficiently, it also excels in post-harvest technology that includes clean water management, waxing, and pre-cooling.

Purfresh atmosphere systems have been known and utilized for some time now in countries such as Chile, Costa Rica, and the USA, but Mexico’s agricultural industry is now rapidly adopting the usage of Purfresh for one of the largest, and most diverse, fresh fruit and produce export markets in the world. Mexico’s agricultural industry works in alignment with strategic national development priorities that support food security and safety along with reducing poverty.

“International shipping of organic produce is very difficult,” says Christian DeBlasio with Purfresh. Organic produce can experience reduced shelf-life due to the absence of chemical protection. As a result, most organic produce is shipped by air, which can be four to five times the cost of ocean freight. “Some companies even decide not to sell organic produce overseas for that reason,” said DeBlasio.

In today’s world, produce varieties are shipped from one part of the globe to another and in some cases, spend weeks in reefer containers. To ensure produce reaches the destination in the best possible condition, Purfresh has developed Active Atmosphere. “In 2008, we introduced Active Atmosphere with Ozone to the market,” says Christian DeBlasio, co-owner of Purfresh. “Ozone reduces mold growth and enhances food safety.”

Blueberries can be highly susceptible to decay from airborne and surface microorganisms that are often present in storage or transport environments. When stored under standard chilled atmosphere conditions, blueberries will typically only last 10-18 days, dramatically limiting the ability to economically transport them over long distances. This short storage life forces many international blueberry exporters to make strategic decisions with transport technology methods and practices to reach a broader, global market.