The Surprise Innovation of Fruit Logistica 2014 : STIX FRESH from Malaysia

Stix Fresh is a labeling sticker processed through a propriety technique by impregnating ionized sodium chloride into a normal labeling which emits a very low frequency of energy according to  STIMULUS NATURE RESOURCES SDN.BHD. . This adds value to the function of the fruit stickers which are used usually for labeling/branding or price tags.  The stickers provide a practical and low cost application to prolong the shelf life of fruit .After using the sticker there is delayed ripening this is  great for farmers/growers,importers/exporters/wholesalers/retailers and of course consumers.

However this is not yet a widespread phenomenon but I have seen it work on the sample fruit at the exhibition firsthand and can atest that  it truly is a wonderful invention .My concerns would be the cost of buying the stickers constantly and how sustainable & cost effective  it is for small farmers. For women in the household we would love to keep our fruit for longer because we don't get to market more than once a week ! To have extended shelf life for farmers and householders alike would be great!

This is a YouTube video taken at Fruit Logistica 2014 by Nancy Handible & I  at the Stand of Stix Fresh with a member of their team explaining to us how the product works:

First Impressions & a first look at The Extended Shelf Life for Broccoli by BrimaPack & the Grape De-Stemming Machine made by ZTI Mechatronics BV both from the Netherlands

First Impressions of the two innovations I have seen namely the Extended Shelf Life for Broccoli by BrimaPack from the Netherlands is that although it greatly extends shelf life which is a challenge that small farmers and other producers routinely face in the ACP countries .The one great drawback is that it is very expensive and would not be a sustainable option for our farmers.  The extended shelf life packaging works by  creating a special natural atmosphere inside the packaging film without chemicals or gases. It is a combination of the NicePack System (Tight packing film with a seal on the butt ) and  the efficiency of a machine. A single unit can clean and pack up to 17 items per minute the company claims. One person can then operate two units maximizing the amount packaged at one time The new film increases the shelf life of broccoli and other brassicas such as cauliflower and cabbage by at least 5-8 days at a temperature of 18 Degrees Centigrade.

.The next Innovation  that we checked out was the Grape De-Stemming Machine made by ZTI Mechatronics BV, Netherlands which according to the company is the first machine to remove grapes neatly from the stalks in a rolling motion without damaging the fruit .They also claim output is five times higher per person than manual operations with processing speed being 240 KG per hour.The verdict on this machinery is that although the processing speed seems much faster it cuts out the human development aspect of the work and it also is not suitable for the pacific or Caribbean region because the technology is too expensive and not suitable for the market.

After looking around for quite some time I realized that as they say the third time is a CHARM the third innovation hidden in plain sight comes  from an Italian company called Turoni which make Quality Assurance Meters, weather monitoring equipment,soil and water analysis equipment to name a few which are innovations that ACP farmers could find very useful because they are easy to use ,relatively cheaper than the other innovations on show at Fruit Logistica and they can also be shipped internationally more cheaply.  I will do a full blog post with other products useful for ACP farmers that this company makes in more detail as I go on the hunt for the rest of the nominees booths to check out their innovations and if they can be adapted and used to benefit COLEACP Farmers!!

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : Folding RPC's (reusable plastic containers for Bananas) from IFCO Systems GERMANY

 When I heard about this innovation I was over the moon and could'nt wait to go and see the "Caja de Oro" RPC's in person and hear what IFCO Systems was saying themselves about their product! . So I hurried to their stand and was greeted warmly by their friendly and knowledgeable staff members. These containers are made from 100 % recyclable polypropylene . This container can be used at point of sale by the producer which saves time on repacking the bananas and waste disposal.

What is even better is that after use the RPC can be folded, collected ,checked ,cleaned and made available to the farmer for reuse. In storage when the RPC's full of bananas are stacked on top of each other the stacking weight is completely borne by the containers therefore protecting the bananas. IFCO Systems also claims enhanced cooling of the produce with their RPC's as optimal cooling can occur 30% faster and 40% more consistently than with using cardboard crates.Optimal ventilation also leads to a very uniform color .

This is a great product and I especially like that the crates can be sent back for cleaning to a high standard at the manufacturer who will also check for flaws . From the perspective of the small Caribbean farmer this may be too expensive for him/her to afford however it may not be too expensive for bigger farms who may be able to afford it . Also it is a necessary step to encourage farmers to use safer methods of packaging using clean and intact containers in transportation,packing and storage of their produce this time especially for bananas.

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : The Fruit Logistica 2014 Innovation Award Winner The BBQ Grill Mix By Eisberg Group from Switzerland!

The Eisberg BBQ Grill Mix is a fantastic innovation with a fresh and easy to use product for those on the go . People who want a healthy option they can prepare on go should try this!  The product consists of washed and sliced ready to grill vegetables which are served up in 100% recyclable aluminum trays suitable for use in the oven or on a grill.
Each tray is sealed with a special film which comes completely off and keep the product fresh and gives optimal presentation at the point of sale . All in all it is easy to use ,recyclable and a convenient and healthy option for those who are on the go  and need to get their vegetables into their main meal with little effort.

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : Compostable packaging nets from beechwood cellulose

These lovely multi colored packaging nets are made from modal cellulose fibre and are environmentally friendly both through the production phase & in waste disposal . The raw material is made from beechwood. These nets can be used with standard clipping machines and are available in different widths(sizes) .  The company uses a special dyeing method which allows the modal fibre to be colored using very little dye. The nets come in standard colours : White,Potato yellow,Lemon yellow,Orange,Red,Bordeaux (Wine) and Dark brown. For Caribbean farmers these nets can be a useful investment to make their products more attractive to the consumer and will encourage people to buy the produce . People are increasingly conscious of their environment and recycling therefore people will find this product extremely attractive knowing that the product is environmentally friendly and comes in lovely colours.

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : Vegetable Crumbs from Aureli Mario from Italy

Aureli has launched vegetable crumbs and predust into the consumer market .It is a truly innovative product using a vegetable coating system directly from real vegetables. The crumbs are wheat and gluten free and comes in an array of lovely colours with a strong taste of vegetables combined with a delicate flavour. There are currently four kinds of crumbs in the range offered by AURELI these are : Carrot Crumbs,Purple Carrot Crumbs,Celery Crumbs and Spinach Crumbs . Vegetable crumbs can be used to coat all different kinds odf meat and fish as well as cheeses and can be used as a new way of eating vegetables with any meal. These combinations change the flavor of the meal  for example : Pork chops with Celery Crumbs to make your meal go from boring to scoring!

This product makes for very attractive presentation of food which will also encourage children to eat healthily which is a huge plus for parents trying to get their kids to eat more vegetables!

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries :Fioretto "TASTE THE BLOOM!"

The Tokita Seed Co. Ltd in Japan has debuted a newly developed  a beautifully elegant stick type cauliflower that resembles a bunch of flowers .  It is a long thin stemmed variety of cauliflower with tiny snow white heads and bright green stems. The flesh is softer than a regular cauliflower but it remains firm after cooking and is even sweeter tasting before and after cooking.Currently the growing times are between 65,80 & 100 days according to the company.

This is a new livelier ,tastier addition to salads for those who do not like to cook or steam their vegetables with preserved flavor you can't go wrong !

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : FETTE DI SOLE:Dried Slices of organic oranges from ITALY !

This amazing food product is made through the slow drying process in Italy and was invented & is produced by Azienda Agricola Campobasso Marco. The product can be eaten as an aperitif before meals,eaten as an after dinner snack, is low in calories as no additional sugar is added and can be used as a creative decoration with confectionery,ice cream and cakes.

This product maintains the nutritional value of the oranges even when they are dried they are also certified organic so that even the peel can be eaten.When I visited this stand a fruit logistica I was blown away by the welcoming atmosphere of the producers , the simple packaging and wholesome taste of the product .It was perfectly refreshing to see this group of farmers market such a simple and natural product to the world . This is something that could be adapted to the Caribbean through our small farmers all it would require is willpower ,resources and a great imagination !
This is one of  my favorite innovations at Fruit Logistica 2014 ! Well done Fette Di Sole !
For More Information on this product see their website here : www.tenutadilagodanice.it

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries :Original Natural New – UURU By Nature: Fruit Importer Weichert presents new banana variety at Fruit Logistica 2014!

These Organic Bananas from Ecuador are simply amazing! It is no wonder that they were a delight to all who tasted them myself included at Fruit Logistica 2014 and that these bananas were also nominated for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. The Uuru Banana is a member of the Cavendish Family but the flavor is exotically sweet with a perfect firm consistency similar to the “Gros Michel” banana.

I was incredibly impressed by this innovation which is being introduced more widely to European markets in 2014 because previously it has been marketed and sold exclusively since May 2013 only to select health food shops. According to Ralph Fischer the marketing manager for the International Fruit Import Company Weichert GmbH & Co. KG.“The response to the banana has been so positive that we’d now like to introduce it to consumers in other European countries”. The market launch will be supported by sales promotion campaigns which are tailored to the occasion.

What is even more impressive is that the Uuru Banana being organically grown through a well-engineered production method which sets new standards in relation to sustainability. During growing an optimized and newly installed water filter system uses up to 50% less water than traditional cultivation methods. They also only use renewable energy and less land space is needed due to the way the banana plants are laid out. Weeds are also used as natural fertilizers.

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries :The Awesome BIOBEST FLYING DOCTORS : A new crop protection tool !

Before coming to Fruit Logistica 2014 Flying Doctors won the SIVAL D’ARGENT 2014 Award recognizing the exceptional potential of BIOBEST’s innovation. This product is amazing because it cuts down the labor and pollen costs for growers in Europe even in orchards.

This product combines pollination and crop protection using flying Bumblebees. The system works by having the bees pass through a dispenser tray containing the microbial crop protection product which sticks to their bodies. When the bees are released they pollinate the flowers but they also effortlessly transfer the crop protection product which has been particularly effective against grey mould and flower thrips in lab and commercial crop tests. Biobest is also testing the possibility of using this system to help combat leaf diseases!

The advantages of the Flying Doctor system for farmers according to the company are that less crop protection product is needed, labor costs are saved because the number of crop sprays can be reduced, Residues are reduced helping growers meet maximum residue levels, The method reduces the risk of resistance build up and the bee deployment method makes the most efficient use of the protection products employed.  In Europe it can be used for a wide variety of fruit and vegetables such as strawberries, in orchards (Apples, Pears),seed production , Zucchini,Melons,Small fruit :Cranberries, Raspberries etc. Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers and other crops. For the Caribbean this technology could be adapted especially for tomatoes and for sweet peppers and even better news the system can be shipped anywhere in the world.

I think this innovation should have been nominated for the Fruit Logistica Award 2014 because of its great potential and its pioneering approach to sustainable crop management. Hats off to you BIOBEST for your great work  for sustainable crop management!!

CHECK OUT: The Flying Doctors in action through this great video by BIOBEST below !!

My COLEACP FRUIT LOGISTICA 2014 Diaries : Oriental Mixed Living Salads: Fresher, Tastier & More Nutritious

This amazing product created by Home Harvest Salads Ltd and grown in Yorkshire UK has won five prestigious awards before coming to Fruit Logistica. The BBC Radio Food & Farming, Finalist, Waitrose Small Producers Awards, Category Winner, Orange Business Innovation Award of the Year, Salads grower of the year, Gold Quality food and drink awards and finally the Oriental Living Salad was shortlisted for the coveted Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2014.

The product advantages are that the salads have improved taste and texture ,the salad lasts up to 10 whole days on the windowsill at home which generates less consumer waste, Nutritional value is maintained and the product is free from additives, processing and chlorine wash which are great pluses for the consumer and the environment. When sold in the supermarkets by retailers the benefits of the product are a longer shelf life and greater availability as the Oak Leaf and Oriental Mixed Living Salads are grown 52 weeks of the year! It's an all round winner and comes in lovely packaging! Very visually pleasing!

Social Reporting Mission to Fruit Logistica 2014 in Berlin with COLEACP

With  about 58,000 visitors from 130 countries Fruit Logistica is the largest exhibition of fruit and vegetables in the world !! . I am so excited to have been selected as one of two individuals from the Caribbean Region to be social reporting for COLEACP from Berlin!!. Walking in the thing that hits you is the great volume of companies and their representatives covering everything from packaging and storage to exporters/importers , production,whole sale and retail as well as transporting and handling.
The ability to foster new connections , learn of new innovative agricultural technologies and network with people from all over the world is incredible -- Fruit Logistica is the Davos of Agriculture!

I am social reporting with three very talented ladies Jeanine Eugene from St Lucia , Nancy Handabile representing Zambia and Ann from Cameroon .Together we jointly represent the Caribbean and African region of small farmers.
 All day we have been roving through the vast halls trying to find the most useful and interesting innovations of 2014 represented at the exhibition. There are a total of 10 nominees for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. You can find them all through this link : http://www.fruitlogistica.de/en/ExhibitorService/FLIAAward/NominatedExhibitor2014/