FarmFresh expands international exposure at Fruit Logistica Berlin 2022

Since it began participating in international events such as Fruit Logistica, in Berlin, Germany, and Fruit Attraction, in Madrid, Spain, with the FarmFresh brand, Termotécnica has been expanding its business in fruit export conservers. In four years, more than 1 million FarmFresh conservers have been used to export more than 4,000 tons of premium Brazilian fruits to countries throughout Europe, such as France, Spain, England, Austria, as well as to the Middle East, Russia, China and Canada. Among the main fruits packaged in the FarmFresh conservers are mangoes, limes and grapes. However, they are also being used to export pitaya, fig, papaya, guava, passion fruit, lychee, atemoya, among others.
FarmFresh solutions will be on display at Fruit Logistica Berlin 2022, from April 5^th – 7^th, at the Brazil Pavilion together with Abrafrutas (Brazilian Association of Fruit and Byproduct Exporters), where all post-harvest solutions from the company’s portfolio will be showcased.

After almost two years without attend any events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be Termotécnica’s 5^th participation in Fruit Logistica, the largest fruit production and technology fair in the world, held in Berlin, Germany.  “Our objective in these fairs is, together with the Brazilian producer, to highlight the benefits of the FarmFresh line to the importer. We present test results and quantify the gains according to each reality, such as reducing freight costs and increasing shelf-life”, says the Managing Director of Termotécnica, Nivaldo Fernandes de Oliveira.

FarmFresh solutions add value to Brazilian fruits in international markets

The FarmFresh solutions manufactured by Termotécnica are gaining broad acceptance in the agribusiness market for valuing Brazilian fruits, allowing distant markets to be better served while maintaining quality longer. In developing EPS conservers, the company has been working with partner producers and traders to assist them in expanding the market share of Brazilian fruits in international markets.
The increase in shelf-life by up to 30% in relation to other types of packaging makes it possible to export to distant locations with long transit times. It also allows using various modes of transport, with features appropriate to the fruit’s processes and qualities.
To attend the demanding European market, producers of Brazilian fruits for export pay special attention to post-harvest, in addition to excellence in all stages of production. Fruits require great care, from selection at harvest time to their display for consumption. In this context, choosing the appropriate packaging is extremely important to maintain thermal conditions throughout the process and guarantee a quality product at the POS.
With this quality in mind, from producing premium fruit in the field until the consumer’s table, FarmFresh solutions have been a differential that adds great value, performing throughout the entire chain: in packaging the fruit, in the ease and cost/benefit of transport logistics, in storage and in retail.
The packaging is an important vehicle to position and communicate these benefits as well as add value. All the conservation technology and the design of the FarmFresh EPS solutions are patented and allow customers to communicate to the market these quality differentials of Brazilian fruits.
Customers report the advantages of FarmFresh EPS conservers over other types of packaging. The benefits in terms of logistical costs of FarmFresh EPS conservers in relation to other materials are proven. Depending on the type of fruit, compared to corrugated board packaging, for example, EPS conservers are up to 60% lighter, which also represents around 6% savings in air freight.
Mango transport and storage tests carried out with FarmFresh conservers concluded that it is the best option when compared to corrugated board boxes, preserving fruit freshness much longer.
FarmFresh EPS packaging solutions provide effective gains and increased competitiveness for export businesses:

• Significant loss reduction in long-distance shipments.
• Temperature conservation, without breaking the cold chain, and less fruit dehydration.
• Lower air freight costs, with fewer kilos per pallet, generating savings in total freight costs.
• Valuing the fruit at the point of sale, with market share gains.

Recycling and reducing the environmental footprint in fruit transport

An important aspect to serve the foreign market, especially in Europe, is the concern with sustainability. Issues such as reverse packaging logistics and waste reduction throughout the chain are increasingly important. “The world and markets are ever more demanding regarding the environmental footprint of companies, and we are committed to this agenda by presenting solutions that are in line with these demands”, says the president of Termotécnica, Albano Schmidt.
In terms of sustainability, FarmFresh conserver boxes contribute on three fronts:
1) In post-consumer recycling, since EPS is a material that can be 100% recycled and transformed into raw material for other applications, such as baseboards and moldings. Termotécnica is part of the Global Packaging Alliance, a global partnership for packaging recycling;
2) Increase shelf-life of fresh products by up to 30%, which helps to reduce waste in the distribution and consumption chain;
3) Contribute to decrease the carbon footprint, with the reduction of CO2 equivalent emissions in transport due to the solutions’ lighter weight, which reduces fuel consumption.

“Our environmental approach brings the circular economy into practice. It includes an integrated vision from product design, operational efficiency, through reverse logistics, recycling and even going to new production chains, closing the circular economy cycle. Thinking about the logistics chain as a whole is a differentiated and innovative solution for this market that meets the requirements for responsible governance by companies in terms of sustainability”, concludes Albano Schmidt.

To learn more about Termotécnica’s sustainable strategy, access the company’s Sustainability Report in its entirety at https://www.termotecnica.ind.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Sustainability-report-2019-2020.pdf