PERU – Peru’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation has approved the sale of Save Foods, an agri-food tech company, agricultural solutions in the country.
Using its proprietary eco products, Save Foods cuts waste by protecting fresh produce from decay and microbial contamination.
Its treatment has proven to be effective at reducing produce loss for dozens of partners and is estimated to reduce produce waste by an average of 50% at the retail level. In 2021 alone, Save Foods prevented millions of fruits and vegetables from going to waste.
“Save Foods’ treatment helps packing houses to address the growing challenges of exporting fruit and vegetables while maintaining their freshness and reducing waste after an extended export process,” said Dan Sztybel, Chief Executive Officer of Save Foods Ltd, the Company’s Israeli subsidiary.
Peru ranks among the world’s top ten fruit-exporting countries. Export of fresh fruit and vegetables from Peru has grown rapidly in recent years, reaching US$3.8 billion in 2020. Grapes, blueberries and avocados drive Peru’s fruit exports, followed by citrus and mango. In 2020, the United States and the European Union accounted for more than 75 percent of Peru’s exports.
However, Peruvian exporters face the challenge of freshness on a daily basis as it can take between three to five weeks to deliver Peruvian produce to the average European retailer, a situation which Save Foods has come to salvage.
“Our treatment fights pathogens, which are largely responsible for decay, and can be used in combination with, or as a replacement for, pesticides that leave chemical residues on fresh produce. This helps packers meet the requirements of the EU’s recently established “Farm to Fork Green Deal Initiative” while maintaining high-quality produce,” added the CEO.
Berries treatment
The company is also seeking to expand its footprint into berries sector following successful trials performed at Trabelsi farm Ltd, a boutique grower specializing in tomatoes, peppers, pineapples, and high-end crops such as strawberries and other berries.
During the trials, the raspberries treated with Save Foods’ product retained their freshness, color, and volume, compared to the industry standard which became discolored and dehydrated in appearance.
The trial surpassed the typical shelf life for berries, with ten days of cold storage and three more days at room temperature.
Galilee Exports, the second largest exporter of fresh produce in Israel, also recently teamed up with Save Foods to leverage on their treatment for all its Bell peppers.
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