Mivor, part of Italy's Association of Val Venosta Fresh Produce Cooperatives (VI.P) and one of Europe's largest apple producers, has completed its move to a new packhouse facility initially opened in September.
The group, which is based in Laces, South Tyrol, was formed four years ago following the merger of two north-east Italian apple cooperatives, Mivo and Ortler.
Handling, storing and distributing more apples than any other member of VI.P, the cooperative is now operating from a brand new, state-of-the-art facility capable of holding around 18,000 300kg crates – equal to a total volume of 5,400 tonnes.
The new packhouse has been built alongside an older facility and enables fully automated sorting, grading, handling and distribution of the cooperative's apples.
Once divided by weight, size and colour, the apples are kept in coldstorage rooms until they are called by the handling system.
'The computerised system oversees conveyor belts and automatic trolleys to manage the movement of product, guaranteeing the maximum in terms of security,' said a spokesperson for Mivor.
'The advantages which the automation of the Mivor packhouse are many,' the spokesperson continued. 'As well as guaranteeing a more secure product, the first in, first out system we have ensures that the freshness and high quality of our apples is best maintained.'
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