DENVER, CO - As a native Californian, I’m well aware of the importance agriculture plays in our state’s economy. The industry thrives on freshness, so providing the best possible conditions post-harvest for these nutritious crops is something Verdant™ Technologies has long been working on. The company’s HarvestHold Fresh® solution has proven to dramatically improve the shelf-life of grape tomatoes in a recent study by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF-IFAS), demonstrating measurably significant benefits compared to the untreated control.

“The research conducted by the University of Florida will play a vital role in helping growers around the world see and experience the benefits of HarvestHold Fresh,” said Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Technologies. “It’s estimated nearly a third of fresh tomatoes purchased in the U.S. are thrown out. HarvestHold Fresh is providing growers and the produce industry a simple solution that adds value by reducing waste throughout the entire value chain, ultimately resulting in a better experience for the consumer.”

Led by Dr. Steven A. Sargent, the research team included co-investigator Dr. Jeffrey Brecht and postdoctoral research associate Dr. Shirin Shahkoomahally. The team conducted a variety of tests on grape tomatoes, examining the firmness, color, weight retention, and decay of tomatoes treated with HarvestHold Fresh.

As noted in the release, the solution was introduced in September 2021 and can be applied wherever and whenever it’s needed most in the supply chain, requiring no catalysts or special equipment through its proprietary delivery method of industry-standard 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).

“The grape tomatoes treated with HarvestHold Fresh reduced weight loss by 50 percent, maintained firmness during cold storage, extended firmness when brought to room temperature, and had 25 percent less decay compared to the untreated tomatoes,” says Dr. Sargent, Professor of Post-Harvest Horticulture at the University of Florida, commenting on the research team’s intent on evaluating the impact of the solution on other crops, including cucumbers, broccoli, and lettuce. “We’ve been interested in learning how HarvestHold performs on various crops. Our trials are proving the uniqueness of this solution, and we are excited to share more results of our additional trials in the coming months.”

Verdant Technologies recently announced approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an expanded label for HarvestHold Fresh, opening the door for more than 30 fruits and vegetables to benefit from its application. The expanded label also includes flexibility for recycling HarvestHold Fresh sheets after application.

Currently, Verdant Technologies is conducting business in Mexico, Colombia, and the United States. The company has received U.S. state approvals for HarvestHold Fresh in 49 states, with anticipation of approval in California by late 2022.

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Verdant™ Technologies University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science