AgroFresh RipeLock™ keeps bananas fresh during transport

With the vast array of international attendees in February at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, one may be surprised to learn that the bananas had one of the longest journeys to the show. Despite this, the bananas visitors saw on display at the AgroFresh Solutions booth had good color and taste, and the company attributes this to their RipeLock Quality System. 

“RipeLock is the first technology of its kind to effectively maintain the quality of bananas — from green life preservation during shipping to a better in-home eating experience for the consumer,” said Ivan Van Dessel, EMEA RipeLock Account Manager for AgroFresh.


The power behind the system

The RipeLock Quality System consists of two synergistic parts: the RipeLock bag and the RipeLock active. Together, this combination can be seamlessly integrated into existing banana programs to help improve banana quality throughout the supply chain, including on display in the store.

Bananas are packed at the source in the RipeLock bag, a specially designed Modified Atmosphere Bag (MAP). The RipeLock bag extends green life during transportation and shipping, encouraging uniform ripening.
 
Near the end of the ripening cycle, the bananas are ready for the RipeLock active. The ethylene-inhibiting application helps extend the yellow life outside of the RipeLock bag. It also helps maintain the preferred texture and taste without the risk of peel splitting.

The RipeLock Quality System enables retailers to more consistently deliver fruit to their customers with greater visual appeal and a broader window of freshness. At the same time, shrink and markdowns can be reduced, facilitating sales and store inventory management.

New opportunities for bananas

Organic banana producers and retailers can now benefit from the proprietary RipeLock bag without the RipeLock active. The RipeLock bag creates an ideal environment to control fruit respiration and maintain proper humidity, thus preventing dehydration and reducing rots and molds.
 
“We continue to test new opportunities for the RipeLock Quality System,” adds Van Dessel. “With banana producers, we are evaluating later harvesting to increase weight of fruit and the possibility to reduce the need for post-harvest fungicides and pesticides. If successful, both of these could provide new ways to increase profit potential and fruit quality.”