Agricola Famosa melons

AgroFresh has received approval from the Brazil Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply for the use of its SmartFresh SmartTabs post-harvest technology on watermelons.

“AgroFresh is committed to investing in research to expand the benefits of SmartFresh technology to new crop segments,” said Jeferson Nunes, Latin America commercial director for AgroFresh. “With the recent approval for watermelons, Brazilian suppliers will now have the tools to export more high-quality fruit to the growing European and Asian markets.”

Brazil exported 206,000 tonnes of melons in 2015. According to Abrafrutas, the Brazilian association of producers and exporters of fruit, the country is looking to continue to meet the increased international demand for tropical fruits, including melons. Technologies such as SmartFresh are important for delivering consistent quality and supply of fruit to market.

SmartFresh is a post-harvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), which inhibits ethylene recognition in fruit, maintaining the quality and taste consumers prefer from storage to transportation and consumption.

SmartTabs, one of three modes of delivery for SmartFresh technology, provides a convenient way to apply it in existing storage rooms or containers.

SmartFresh also is registered for use on apples, avocados, bananas, limes, guavas, mangoes, plums, persimmons, tomatoes, papayas and kiwifruit in Brazil.