2017 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award

European Market

The veg-centric restaurant plate expands retail opportunities.

2017‭ ‬Fruit Logistica Innovation Award

Organized by Messe Berlin GmbH‭, ‬Fruit Logistica 2017‭, ‬held Feb‭. ‬8‭ ‬to 10‭, ‬was attended by 75,000‭ ‬high-level trade visitors from more than 130‭ ‬countries‭; ‬3,100‭ ‬exhibitors from 84‭ ‬countries presented a comprehensive look at the fresh produce industry‭.

The Berlin-based show displayed a plethora of innovations to move the industry forward‭. ‬Ten candidates were nominated for the coveted‭ ‬Innovation Award‭. ‬Here is a review of the winner and contenders‭.‬


Winner:
Knox Fresh Cut LettuceKnox – Delayed Pinking in Fresh Cut Lettuce
Rijk Zwaan Distribution B.V., the Netherlands

Knox delays the discoloration‭ ‬‮—‬‭ ‬so-called pinking‭ ‬‮—‬‭ ‬at the edges of fresh-cut lettuce‭. ‬This not only extends the shelf life of lettuce by one to two days‭, ‬but also reduces food waste‭. ‬The discoloration that is visually unattractive to consumers has previously led to the wholesale rejection of even unaffected produce‭.

Contenders‭:‬
BE Cube Demountable PalletboxBE-Cube Demountable Palletbox System
Beekenkamp Verpakkingen B.V‭., ‬the Netherlands

The BE-Cube is a fully collapsible space-saving multipurpose pallet box system for storing and transporting products such as potatoes‭, ‬onions‭, ‬nuts and seeds‭. ‬The assembly of the impact-resistant design is achieved in a matter of minutes‭. ‬The BE-Cube weighs less than wooden or plastic pallets‭, ‬but its special construction makes it just as strong‭. ‬Options include a base opening for‭ ‬easy discharge‭, ‬a tilting capability‭, ‬and different big bag and stringer format options‭.‬

Crisp Fresh WatermelonCrisp Fresh Watermelon‭, ‬Syngenta‭, ‬France
Crisp Fresh Watermelon is a seedless watermelon with uniquely firm flesh‭. ‬The characteristic genetic‭ ‬“ultra firm”‭ ‬feature ensures that the processed product does not fragment so quickly‭. ‬This specially developed melon variety from Syngenta’s new Crisp Fresh product line is characterized by the fact it loses significantly less liquid than other varieties‭.‬

ZTI Mango Peeler & De-Cheeker

Mango Peeler‭ ‬&‭ ‬De-Cheeker‭, ‬ZTI Smart Machines‭, ‬the Netherlands
The Mango Peeler‭ ‬&‭ ‬De-Cheeker peels and removes the cheeks of mangos at high volume in a single process‭. ‬Dynamic insert clamps adjust automatically to the respective mango size and grasp the fruit firmly‭. ‬Specially developed spikes transport the fruit‭, ‬and‭ ‬the specially developed ZTI Elastospring springs position the mango optimally for an exact‭, ‬precise peeling cut with finely adjustable peeling knives‭.‬

Natupol Excel – Bumble Bee Vision
Natupol Bumble Bee VisionKoppert Biological Systems, the Netherlands

Natupol Excel‭ ‬‮–‬‭ ‬Bee Vision is a system that helps to guide bumble bees back to their hive under unfavorable artificial lighting‭ ‬conditions in greenhouses during the darker months of the year‭. ‬Reflective signals and the special coating on the boxes help the‭ ‬bees find their way‭. ‬They can thus expend their energy better on the crucial task of pollinating fruit and vegetable greenhouse‭ ‬crops‭.‬

SoFruBox SystemSoFruBox System, SoFruPak, Poland
The SoFruBox system is an environmentally friendly modular packaging system optimized for the cooling and ventilation of fresh fruit‭. ‬Compatible SoFruMiniPak 250‭ ‬g or 500‭ ‬g punnets can be inserted exactly in the bottomless SoFruBox trays‭. ‬A system with one‭ ‬SoFruBox and six 1‭ ‬kg containers is also available‭. ‬Numerous ventilation slots and a special support bracket‭, ‬which allows the‭ ‬removal of the base of the larger box‭, ‬ensure the contents are better ventilated‭.‬

Streamer Automatic Piralizer, TurattiStreamer Automatic Spiralizer, Turatti srl, Italy
The high-volume Streamer Automatic Spiralizer cuts vegetables such as carrots‭, ‬zucchini and sweet potatoes into pasta-like noodles of various sizes and shapes‭. ‬The vegetables can be transformed into a wide range of thin or thick spaghetti‭, ‬tagliatelle‭, ‬rings or large spirals‭. ‬From the stems and cores and other irregular parts‭, ‬products such as vegetable gnocchi can be produced‭.‬

Sustainable Grow Bag for Tasty Tomatoes
Greenyard Sustainable Grow BagGreenyard Horticulture Belgium, Belgium

The Sustainable Grow Bag is an alternative to conventional stone wool bags with 100‭ ‬percent fully compostable foil and organic substrate‭. ‬It can be used in growing tomatoes but also for other types of greenhouse vegetables such as eggplants‭, ‬cucumbers‭, ‬strawberries or zucchini‭. ‬The Sustainable Grow Bag offers growers significant advantages in terms of sustainability with regard to‭ ‬pesticide use and waste‭.‬

The Cracking Monkey — Pili Nuts,
Die Frischebox GmbH, Germany

The Cracking MonkeyThe Cracking Monkey‭ ‬‮—‬‭ ‬Pili Nuts come from the Philippines‭. ‬Osmotic pre-germination increases the nutritional value of Pili Nuts‭,‬‭ ‬and its levels of vitamin E are several times higher than those of other nuts‭. ‬Using a unique patented method‭, ‬The Cracking Monkey‭ ‬‮–‬‭ ‬Pili Nuts are pre-scored for easy opening and sold with a special stainless-steel cracker tool made of recycled cutlery‭. ‬The nuts are sold in environmentally friendly cotton bags printed with soya-based inks‭.‬

Yello — The Color of Taste,
VI.P / VOG, Italy

Yello - The Color of TasteYello‭ ‬‮—‬‭ ‬The Color of Taste is an apple of the Shinano Gold variety originally grown in Nagano‭, ‬Japan‭. ‬It is a cross between Golden Delicious and Senshu and its name comes from its characteristic yellow‭, ‬alabaster-like skin‭. ‬Its flesh is juicy‭, ‬crisp and sweet‭. ‬Special characteristics include low susceptibility to russeting and bruising‭, ‬firmness levels up to 7.8‭ ‬kg/cm2‭, ‬and Brix values between 14.7‭ ‬and 15.5‭. ‬The Yello brand is registered in more than 60‭ ‬countries worldwide‭.‬