Friday, December 6, 2013

USDA certifies new cold chain food technology

Flagler Global Logistics announced its South Florida logistics center has received USDA approval for a new treatment process for fruits, vegetables and other perishable items. The new technology allows for better management of the "cold chain" to extend produce shelf life and quality, according to the statement.

Industry reports say that nearly $35 billion of perishable foods are wasted per year, with almost half of those losses due to temperature changes experienced in-transit between the grower and the grocer.

Flagler says its new USDA-approved treatment process stabilizes the cold chain integrity by exposing fruits and vegetables to a more uniform temperature, vastly improving the quality of the products.

"This new technology is a game changer for exporters looking to bring their produce to supermarket shelves in the United States," said Chris Scott, president and CEO of Flagler Global Logistics.  "With this cold chain infrastructure in place at the South Florida Logistics Center, our partners have a new gateway to the Southeast that allows them to get their product to market more quickly — adding at least a week or more to the product's shelf life. It's a true competitive advantage, aiding our economy's growth while saving exporters and grocers time and money."

For more of the Fresh Plaza story: freshplaza.com

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