Hazel Technologies Announces Partnership With WP Produce
CHICAGO, IL - For all you avocado lovers out there, I’ve got some exciting news: Hazel Technologies has officially announced its partnership with WP Produce to bring Desbry brand tropical avocados to the U.S. For us over here in the States that can’t seem to get enough of this superfruit, this is also a win for us.
“WP Produce has been an industry leader in the tropical avocado market for decades, and we are continuously searching for new ways to further improve the supply chain for our premium-quality tropical avocados,” commented Chris Gonzalez, Vice President of Sales at WP Produce. “Tropical avocados have become increasingly popular with consumers, who enjoy the fresh flavor, firmer texture, and addition to the avocado category that these varieties provide. So, as we sought to expand our distribution throughout the U.S. and Canada, we knew a partnership with Hazel Technologies would help us ensure all our customers from the East to West Coasts would receive high-quality fruit with longer shelf life at retail.”
According to a press release, the partnership has resulted in over a year of research with the WP Produce supply chain with fruit originating from Florida as well as the Dominican Republic. Hazel™ packaging for the avocados maintained quality and shelf life and helped reduce shrink and food waste of Desbry tropical avocados.
“The feedback from our commercial trials has been phenomenal,” Gonzalez continued. “Our retail partners saw an additional 4-5 days of shelf life, an improvement of up to 40 percent, and were thrilled by the reduced shrink this provided. In addition to the performance, what really sold us was the ease of use; our packers simply need to include one Hazel packet in each carton, without needing to invest in additional setup, equipment, or training.”
Hazel’s sachets have shown to slow down the ripening process post-harvest, ensuring the same fabulous avocado from start to finish when it reaches consumers. The USDA-funded avo-saver also plays an important role in reducing produce wasted due to loss in quality or appearance.
“Our partnership with WP Produce, a premier tropical avocado grower and packer for over 35 years, is further evidence of how many different types of avocados can enjoy longer shelf life and maintain quality with our technology," commented Aidan Mouat, CEO and Co-Founder at Hazel Technologies. “The data-driven validation from the customers of WP Produce shows that using Hazel Tech can have a real impact increasing sales and reducing food waste for retailers handling avocados.”
As more and more companies take part in this sustainable and innovative product, the more the earth is left in a better place for the future. What other innovations are yet to be made? Find out with us at ANUK.
