Better Ask Barry: How is tech addressing food freshness?

(KION) The employees at Mission Produce in Oxnard need to move quickly. The Hass avocados they pack and ship have just two to four days of freshness.

Now, a new technology is expected to change that.

“It's as simple as throwing a packet in a box,” said Patrick Cortes of Mission Produce. “We’ve been able to extend the shelf life 2-4 days when fruits ripe."

Cortes credits a palm-sized pouch of preservatives created by Hazel Technologies.

The company claims the packets slow down the chemical process that causes decay.

Each packet contains a blend of dirt and sand, along with the active ingredient 1-methylcyclopropene (1-M-C-P) which interacts with the ethylene gas that is naturally released from the avocado to slow down the ripening process.

"It is not contacting the produce, no chemistry added into the food supply, but by controlling that atmospheric response to the ethylene we can extend the shelf life of the produce,” said Aidan Mouat of Hazel Technologies.

Each packet costs a dollar, and can treat 25 pounds of produce.

“Since 2018, we have saved about 130 million pounds of produce from going bad," said Mouat.

There are other produce preservation technologies in the works.

Apeel Sciences claims to cut food waste in half by spraying produce once with a formula made from fatty acids of natural peels, seeds and skins.

Cambridge Crops makes an edible, protective coating made from natural silk proteins.

Cortes says Hazel’s packets make it possible for him to ship to new markets like India and China. He thinks it’s a game changer.

“Absolutely,” he said. “We can reduce waste retailers see at store level. We can increase positive experiences the consumer has with avocados."

Hazel Technologies says its packets also work on leafy greens and apples. The company is developing new technology to work on berries and root vegetables.