Sumitomo Chemical launches exclusive platform for apple protection

Three out of every ten apples harvested in Brazil are lost in storage. The data is impressive in a strong chain with a consolidated market in Brazil, but which harvests in a very concentrated period, from February to May. To help fruit producers and storers and, mainly, to provide Brazilians with quality apples throughout the year, Sumitomo Chemical launches on October 26th, in Vacaria (RS), ecoFOG® 160, a fungicide that is part of the company's platform in the protection of fruit post-harvest for treatment in storage chambers.

“The apple harvest takes place in just over three months, but we can find the fruit in supermarkets all year round. How is it possible? With great care, combined with technology. Now, customers will have a quality solution that protects fruits from rotting by fungi”, says the manager of Seed Treatment and Special Projects at Sumitomo Chemical, José Júnior. ecoFOG® 160 does not alter the natural characteristics of the fruit.

Júnior explains that three diseases can attack apples post-harvest: blue mold, gray mold and bull's-eye rot. These diseases considerably compromise the quality of the fruit. “ecoFOG® 160 generates numerous benefits for the consumer, preserving the appearance of fruits and preserving quality for consumers”, he highlights.

Losses

Apple losses are very high during the storage process, and can exceed 30% of production. Eduardo Rossini Guimarães is Growth Regulators Marketing Manager and explains that the harvest is concentrated in a certain period, but needs to serve the market throughout the year, hence the importance of the platform developed by Sumitomo Chemical.

“It is a safe technology for the applicator, the environment and the end consumer. ecoFOG® 160 is applied with precision and high technology to protect the apple from fungi”, reinforces Guimarães.

A unique product in Brazil, ecoFOG® 160 is the first product that the company launches from the Sumitomo Chemical post-harvest protection platform and, according to the Marketing manager, “adds a lot” to the apple chain, since the more quality reflects in greater supply.

Quality application

After harvesting, the fruit is taken to storage chambers, where they are stored in crates, called bins. EcoFOG® 160 is applied using an electrothermal gun, which performs thermofogging.

Strategic Biorational Manager, Cesar Boff explains that apples are stored in cold chambers for several months, a closed environment that has a controlled temperature and atmosphere. “Which is an advantage, since in this environment it is possible to make a controlled, uniform application with fewer environmental variations compared to pre-harvest”, he says.

Unlike what generally occurs in the production chain, ecoFOG® 160 is sold in an applied form by Sumitomo Chemical, which ensures the quality and standardization of application through the exclusive system. In addition to maintaining the food safety of fruits, the ProClean® system prevents contamination of the environment, with a technology that filters all gases generated in the operation, making the operation even cleaner, safer and more sustainable. Electrothermal fogging is done with extremely small particles, allowing a homogeneous and perfect distribution between the fruits. The thermofogging system for apples is a launch by Sumitomo Chemical in Brazil.

“We have a market that is very eager for technology like this. In addition to the sector's financial losses, the objective is also to reduce food losses in the production chain, for the store, the trader and the consumer”, says Boff.

The launch of ecoFOG will bring together representatives who cover 80% of the apple market in Brazil. It will take place at Vinícola Campestre, starting at 9 am, which will also discuss the fruit scenario, the presentation of the solution and practical demonstration of its use. “We are going to present a new technology, an exclusive product from Sumitomo Chemical, to help companies and packing houses have less losses due to illness and offer a better product to the consumer”, concludes José Júnior.