Ethylene Control: The Key to Extending Shelf Life in Produce

For commercial produce warehouses and cold storage facilities, maintaining the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables is paramount. These facilities have the enormous task of keeping the produce fresh for extended periods, from their arrival until they reach the end consumers. One significant challenge in this process is ethylene control. In this blog post, we will explore the nature of ethylene gas, its impact on produce, and how innovative technologies like AirROS surface and air sanitizer can be used to control it effectively.

What is Ethylene Gas?

Ethylene is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless plant hormone that many fruits and vegetables produce. It plays a crucial role in ripening by signaling the fruit or vegetable that it’s time to mature. However, the accelerated ripening caused by ethylene can lead to premature aging and spoilage if not appropriately managed.

Ethylene Producing Fruits

It’s important to understand that not all fruits and vegetables produce and react to ethylene similarly. Some, known as climacteric fruits, continue to ripen after being harvested due to their high ethylene production. These include apples, bananas, pears, peaches, avocados, tomatoes, and kiwis.

On the other hand, non-climacteric fruits like strawberries, grapes, and oranges do not ripen post-harvest and are less sensitive to ethylene. Nonetheless, ethylene exposure can still adversely affect them, particularly in a closed environment like a storage facility.

The Impact of Ethylene Gas

Unchecked ethylene production can quickly lead to over-ripening and spoilage in commercial warehouses and cold storage facilities. This is especially true when climacteric fruits are stored alongside other produce. Ethylene emitted by these fruits can accelerate the ripening and degradation of surrounding items, leading to significant wastage and financial losses.

Ethylene Control with AirROS

Considering these challenges, the question becomes, “How can commercial produce warehouses and cold storage facilities effectively manage ethylene gas?” Modern, innovative technologies like AirROS surface and air sanitizer are the answer.

AirROS is a cutting-edge technology that sanitizes air and surfaces, eliminating harmful pathogens that may cause spoilage. More importantly, it also scrubs ethylene gas from the environment, slowing the ripening process and extending the shelf life of stored produce.

How does it work? AirROS generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which neutralize harmful microbes by oxidizing them. They also erode ethylene gas, breaking it into harmless byproducts – water and carbon dioxide.

Advantages of AirROS for Commercial Facilities

AirROS surface and air sanitizer present several considerable advantages for commercial facilities. Firstly, it prolongs the shelf life of fresh produce by controlling ethylene levels, thereby reducing wastage. Secondly, it enhances food safety by eliminating airborne and surface pathogens.

Moreover, as it doesn’t use harmful chemicals, it is an eco-friendly solution, becoming increasingly important in today’s environment-conscious society.

Using AirROS technology, commercial produce warehouses and cold storage facilities can significantly improve their operations. They can offer their customers fresher, healthier fruits and vegetables, reduce waste, and improve their bottom line.

Conclusion

For commercial produce warehouses and cold storage facilities, managing ethylene levels is a critical factor in maintaining the freshness of their inventory and reducing wastage. Technologies like AirROS surface and air sanitizer offer a promising solution, scrubbing ethylene gas and providing a safer, cleaner environment for produce storage. To learn more about AirROS systems fill out the form by clicking here.