Advanced packaging preserves freshness, color, and quality of tropical fruits during international sea transport
StePacPPC, an Israeli company and global leader in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for fresh produce, has developed a new Xtend® MA/MH film designed to preserve the freshness and vibrant appearance of the tropical fruit pitaya (dragon fruit) during long sea shipments from Ecuador to the United States and Europe.
The new packaging balances oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, controls humidity, and protects the fruit during storage and extended transport. It also reduces dehydration and inhibits microbial spoilage, thereby slowing deterioration.
StePacPPC’s Xtend® film has also proven effective in preserving the fruit’s protruding bracts - a key indicator of freshness - that tend to curl and wilt if dehydrated. The development of this film by StePacPPC’s R&D team took over three years and involved close collaboration with pitaya exporters to refine post-harvest practices, packaging design, and overall performance.
This solution adds to StePacPPC’s portfolio, which already includes packaging for other tropical fruits such as bananas, passion fruit, lychee, longan, rambutan, mango, and papaya.
