Fresh produce sector presents innovations - Fruit Logistica

Fresh produce sector presents innovations - Fruit Logistica

Trade visitors play a key role in choosing winner of the FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award 2010

Berlin, 1 February 2010 – The nine FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award (FLIA) 2010 finalists have been selected by a panel of experts. The entries nominated for the award presented at the leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing include the following: a device designed to remove pomegranate seeds (Israel), a sweet, long-stem variety of broccoli (Netherlands), a convenience product called "Carrot Fettuccini" (Italy), a flavour concept for potatoes used as an orientation aid at the point of sale (Netherlands), savoury-spiced Californian pistachios (Belgium), a foldable box with a base that expands with increasing weight (Netherlands), a two-colour tray with lid designed to enhance the visual appeal of fruit and vegetables (Greece), a portable device for inspecting and determining the inner quality of many different fruit and vegetable varieties (Italy), and a system for continuous monitoring of fresh produce temperature and humidity on pallets via Internet and wireless communications (Israel).

The FLIA recognises outstanding new products or services that have had a significant impact on the fruit and vegetable industry and were introduced to the market between 1st November 2008 and 31st October 2009. The award will be presented for the fifth time at the leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing taking place at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds on 3-5 February 2010. More than 50,000 trade visitors from 120 countries will have a chance to vote for the innovation of the year during the first two days of the fair. The submitted entries will be presented in the area between Halls 20/21. This is also where the award ceremony will take place on 5th February 2010 at 2.30 pm. The FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award 2010 is sponsored by Messe Berlin GmbH and FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE, Dusseldorf.

Here is an alphabetical list of FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award nominees:

ART – Arils Removal Tool
Company: Mehadrin Tnuport Export, Israel
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand E-04
Website: www.mtex.co.il

The ART – Arils Removal Tool – is a simple and clever tool for pitting pomegranates quickly, cleanly and easily.
Pomegranates have become very popular in recent years. However the task of peeling and pitting the pomegranate itself can be a little off-putting. The Arils Removal Tool provides a simple and innovative solution for pitting this very healthy fruit and can be used anywhere.
The shape and size of the ART are reminiscent of a lemon press. The tool comprises a bowl to catch the seeds, a grid and a flexible silicone dome.
After removing the crown, the pomegranate is cut in half, placed on the grid and covered with the silicone dome. A table spoon or a similar object can then be used to strike the pomegranate through the dome so that the seeds simply drop into the bowl beneath. The dome also protects your clothing from the rich red pomegranate juice! It is then a simple matter to enjoy the pomegranate seeds in salads, yoghurts or simply as a snack on their own.
The ART is available in red and white.
Market launch: September 2009

Bellaverde® Sweet Stem Broccoli
Company: Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand D-06
Website: www.bellaverde.co.uk

Bellaverde® Sweet Stem Broccoli is a new, sweeter variety of broccoli with a long thin stem which can not only be cooked or steamed but also eaten raw as a starter or in salads.
This new broccoli variety is reminiscent of traditional varieties such as Cime de Rapa which have been known for generations. To reflect these historical origins it has been given an Italian name – Bellaverde – which also reflects the strong green colouring of the vegetable.
The secret of the sweet taste lies in the sun. After the first broccoli head has been removed, new young shoots grow in the sun and are hand harvested after just ten days. It is this which gives them their delicate sweet taste, their attractive green colour and their special texture.
After its successful market launch in the UK in 2009, Bellaverde® will be available in other countries in 2010 including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
The season runs from the middle of June to the end of November. Bellaverde® can be grown both in southern Europe in the winter months as well as in northern regions in the summer. Extensive marketing and PR campaigns are carried out in cooperation with local trading partners.
Pack unit: 200g foodtainers
Market launch: July 2009

Carrot Fettuccini
Company: Aureli Mario, Italy
Stand: Hall 1.1, Stand E-08 / Hall 4.2, Stand D-04
Website: www.aurelimario.com

Company: La Linea Verde S.p.A., Italy (licensor)
Stand: Hall 4.2, Stand B-05
Website: www.lalineaverde.it


Carrot Fettuccini are a convenience product made from 25-30cm strips of carrot with a width of 0.8 to 1cm. They can be eaten raw as a snack or in a salad, or boiled for a few minutes and seasoned with olive oil or other spices
Carrots are not only a very traditional product but also a very popular one. For the convenience sector Carrot Fettuccini thus make an interesting new product for the consumer. Their quick and simple preparation and consumption make them a valuable contribution to a healthy diet.
The basis for Carrot Fettuccini are specially selected carrot varieties which are particularly suitable for the production of convenience products.
Pack unit: 200g bag
Market launch: October 2009

Dynamic Shipper
Company: Polymer Logistics, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 3.2, Stand C-13, Hall 4.2 / Stand B-09
Website: www.polymerlogistics.com

The Dynamic Shipper is a polypropylene foldable box on wheels with an adjustable elevating floor. The basic height of the floor of the box can be adjusted to a preferred level. The weight of the produce and the elastic supports will do the rest, making sure that the top layer of produce stays at more or less the same level. This represents both an ergonomic advantage for staff in the packhouse – they can fill the box safely and more easily, and customers in the retail outlet do not have to bend to reach the product. They can instead serve themselves at a convenient level.
Recent tests have proven the effectiveness of the Dynamic Shipper for promoting sales. Increases of 11 per cent in turnover and a reduction of 2 per cent in spillage have been recorded.

Measurements: unfolded L 80 x B 60 xH 105 cm, folded L 80 x B 60 x H 60,5 cm. Container weight 26kg. The Dynamic Shipper can hold up to 250kg and can be used in temperatures ranging from - 20 to + 50 degrees Celsius. The Dynamic Shipper can be supplied labeled and in any colour.
Market launch: November 2008

Easypack Black & Transparent
Company: NGP Plastic SA, Greece
Stand: Hall 2.1, Stand D-04
Website: www.ngpplastic.gr

Easypack Black & Transparent offers the possibility of having two different colours for the lid and the base in the same single-piece clamshell pack. This means it can satisfy the trend towards multi-colour packs for the effective presentation of fresh produce while at the same time avoiding the disadvantages of separate lids and bases.
The use of a contrasting second colour means that fresh fruit and vegetable products – such as tomatoes, grapes, cherries and berries with a strong natural colour – can be presented more attractively and effectively in the retail outlet.
According to the manufacturer, single-piece clamshells can save up to 15 per cent in logistic and transport costs.
Easypack Black & Transparent is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes for weights from 250g to 2kg.
Easypack Long: 186 x 186 x 53 / 80 / 85 / 90 / 110 / 130 / 135 mm
Easypack Square: 186 x 186 x 39 / 44 / 49 / 54 / 64 / 74 / 79 / 86 / 94 / 101 / 119 / 131 / 139 / 144 / 151 mm
Easypack Mini: 127 x 93,5 x 53 / 75 mm
Easypack Tria: 191 x 118 x 47 / 52 / 64 / 69 mm
Easypack extra Long: 286 x 93,5 x 39 / 44 / 49 / 54 / 64 / 69 / 74 / 84 mm
Market launch: January 2009

Pommonde® Potato Taste Concept
Company: HZPC Holland BV, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand E-15
Website: www.hzpc.nl

The Pommonde® potato taste concept offers consumers an innovative practical guide when buying potatoes in the store. The standard description of potato varieties is largely based on cooking characteristics. That does not provide much help when selecting the best variety for specific recipes. The Pommonde® concept is intended to change all that. After extensive consumer research, HZPC has now launched a new taste guide for its potato range under the Pommonde® brand name using different logos and colour codes to clearly identify each separate type of potato.
Fine (creamy and refined): A potato with a creamy structure and a fresh, sweet, buttery flavour. Especially suitable for high-quality gourmet dishes in which the potato is in balance with other ingredients.
Lite (light and mild): A potato with a light soft structure suitable for dishes with soft neutral flavours and textures.
Bite (firm and tasty): A potato with a distinctively firm texture and a full rich flavor – something to get your teeth into!
Ripe (floury and dry): A drier potato which is more floury in texture and suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.
Pack unit: 2.5kg bag
Market launch: November 2008

QS_300
Company: Unitec S.p.A., Italy
Stand: Hall 4.1, Stand A-02 / Hall 10.2, Stand B-05
Website: www.unitec-group.com

The QS_300 is a portable instrument for monitoring and measuring the internal quality of a wide range of fruit and vegetables including pip- and stonefruit, citrus, kiwis and tomatoes, without damaging the produce itself.
The unit can be used to measure the sugar content in Brix, the consistency of the fruit pulp in kg/cm2, and the level of acidity in g/l. All that is needed is to place the instrument’s sensor on the surface of the fruit.
The unit allows the rapid and mobile measurement of internal characteristics at any point in the supply chain. It obviates the need for laboratory measurements or specialised software. The data is processed automatically and instantaneously by the unit and displayed on a screen. USB and ethernet ports make onward data transmission simple. There is also a slot for SD-cards.
The instrument weighs only 1.3kg, can be operated with only one hand, and is equipped with a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery with a cycle of approximately four hours. Its energy and environmental impact is therefore minimal.
Market launch: October 2009

Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper
Company: Paramount Farms Europe, Belgium
Stand: Hall 23, Stand B-01
Website: www.wonderfulpistachios.com

Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper are California pistachios with a unique new spicy flavour in a 250g bag. A new mixture of different sorts of pepper gives the otherwise typically salted pistachio a completely new warm and spicy taste.
The new flavour was developed in house and tested on markets as far apart as France, Italy, Israel and the Middle East.
Only the largest sized nuts from California’s San Joaquin Valley are used in the production of Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper. The pistachios are not roasted on belts but rather on dry rotary roasters which provide an even roasting and a better flavour. They open 100% naturally.
With this new flavour, Paramount Farms aims to attract new customers to the category and provide a wider choice of products. Consumers can find a whole range of information about the product in an entertaining style at www.wonderfulpistachios.com.
Wonderful Pistachios are listed with all leading retailers in Germany. As a result of the success of the 250g bag, a 500g bag is planned to be introduced in 2010.
Market launch: March 2009

Xsense™ Perishables Quality Monitoring System
Company: StePac LA Ltd., Israel
Stand: Hall 3.2, Stand C-21
Website: www.stepac.com

The Xsense™ Perishables Quality Monitoring System enables the continuous monitoring of the temperature and relative humidity of perishable fresh produce shipments on an individual pallet basis via the internet and mobile phone system in real time.
Disposable sensor tags are placed inside one carton in each pallet. Temperature and relative humidity monitoring begins immediately with data relayed to customers via standard mobile phone networks to a secure internet application. Data can be viewed on screen via the internet during every stage of the supply chain. If measurements exceed preset levels at any time, the system can send alerts by text message or e-mail. A GPS transmitter embedded in the system also allows the accurate tracking of shipping movements.
The Xsense™ System means that continuous product monitoring is possible at a single pallet level, enabling effective and rapid decision-making and logistical management from pack house to the retail outlet.
The system comprises disposable sensor tags, communication units, and a secure internet-based application. A PDA barcode reader is optional.
Market launch: May 2009

This press release along with photos of the ten FLIA nominees are also available on the Internet: www.fruitlogistica.com / Press Releases or Press Photos / FLIA 2010.

Press contact:
Messe Berlin GmbH
Michael T. Hofer
Director, Corporate Press and Public Relations

Wolfgang Rogall
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
14055 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 3038-2218
Fax: +49 30 3038-2287
rogall@messe-berlin.de

Executive Board:
Raimund Hosch (CEO),
Dr. Christian Göke
Supervisory Board Chairman:
Hans-Joachim Kamp
Commercial Registry:
Charlottenburg Admin. Court, entry no. HRB 5484 B

Additional information:
www.fruitlogistica.com
www.messe-berlin.com