Company Introduction
Dole Fresh Fruit is a division of Dole plc (a company founded in 1851 in Hawaii), specializing in the production, marketing, and distribution of fresh fruits worldwide. Its primary focus is the production and distribution of tropical fruits such as bananas, pineapples, mangoes, and other fresh products in global markets like America, Europe, and Asia, supplying supermarkets, wholesalers, and other commercial clients. Its key production centers are in Latin America, with plantations in countries such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia.
The Challenge
Dole needed a Shelf-Life Extension Box Liner for transporting bananas from Ecuador to Alaska. The supply chain involved a journey from Ecuador to Seattle, where the bananas would undergo a ripening process in a cold chamber before being sent to their final destination in Alaska.
The liner’s technical requirements were as follows:
Maintain a relative humidity of 98%.
Ensure a stable cold chain at 12°C.
Capture ethylene generated during the journey from Ecuador to Seattle.
Allow ethylene application in the ripening chamber in Seattle.
Ensure that the bananas arrived in Seattle at ripening level 2 and reached levels 3-4 in Alaska.
Shelf-Life Extension Liner:
The export Liner is a specialized packaging solution that helps extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by controlling their respiration rate and humidity within the packaging, keeping them fresh for longer. Its design is ideal for addressing logistical challenges in the distribution, storage, marketing, and export of fresh products, ensuring their quality at every stage. Additionally, it helps reduce food waste by minimizing spoilage due to decomposition. It is made from 100% recyclable or compostable materials, offering a sustainable solution for the agri-food industry.
The Development Process
Our first contact was with the head of Dole’s Innovation Department, with whom we conducted an initial interview to understand the product requirements. Based on this information, we developed the first liner proposal. However, this initial solution did not meet the established objectives, as it was not sufficiently effective in controlling humidity and ethylene.
To improve our proposal, we decided to travel to Costa Rica to visit Dole’s Post-Harvest Innovation Center. During this visit, we conducted a detailed study of the client’s needs, observed packaging handling under real conditions, and gathered key information for product optimization.
The Solution
Based on our research in Costa Rica, we developed a new low-density polyethylene liner with micro-perforations on each side of the box. This design enabled better control of humidity and ethylene, meeting Dole’s requirements.
Results
Thanks to this solution, Dole optimized the transportation and ripening of its bananas, ensuring superior product quality at the final destination. Today, this liner has become Dole’s standard for this process, with an annual consumption of our Gurpa Bio liner line.
Conclusion
This success story reaffirms our commitment to innovation and the development of efficient and specialized packaging solutions for the agri-food industry. At Gurpa Bio, we understand that each client has unique needs, which is why we develop specialized and customized projects tailored to their product and market requirements. Our team works closely with each company to design innovative flexible packaging solutions, optimizing food preservation, logistics, and presentation. From material selection to the implementation of advanced technology, we focus on creating packaging that not only protects but also drives our clients' success in an increasingly demanding market.
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