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Purfresh Transport Enables Retailers to Meet Consumer Demand for Fungicide-free Produce in Overseas Shipment
Purfresh technology protects pineapples against decay and bacteria during transatlantic shipment without fungicides

Fremont, Calif. – Nov. 19, 2008 - Purfresh, Inc., provider of technologies that purify, protect, and preserve our food and water, today announced Purfresh Transport™ has been shown in a recent study to be more effective than fungicides in a pineapple shipment from Costa Rica to the United Kingdom. The Purfresh Transport system integrates with standard refrigerated freight containers to protect against yeast, mold and bacteria without the use of harsh chemicals or residues.

During the 16-day transatlantic shipment, the pineapples in the control container were treated with a typical fungicide and wax combination; the pineapples in the Purfresh container were left in their natural state—no chemicals or waxes were applied. Results showed that Purfresh Transport controlled bacteria, yeast and mold, as effectively as traditional fungicide and wax mixtures, which leave heavy residues that are undesired by consumers. The study also found that the pineapples protected with Purfresh Transport had 95% less bacteria than the control shipment using chemicals.

“With higher volumes of produce moving around the globe, retailers and shippers are seeking viable methods to minimize chemical usage, reduce costs, and capture lost revenue from produce decay and contamination,” said David Cope, president and CEO of Purfresh. “Consumers are increasingly calling for reductions in the use of harmful chemicals, alongside the demand for fresh and high quality produce. This study proves that there are effective alternatives to traditional fungicides and out-dated shipping methods.”

Purfresh Transport plug-and-play technology is designed to easily attach and detach from refrigerated shipping containers to reduce decay, control ripening and improve food safety. The gaseous ozone generated by Purfresh Transport optimizes conditions in shipping containers, killing bacteria, yeast, and mold contaminants, and then reverts back to pure oxygen leaving behind no residue. The solution also neutralizes airborne ethylene to prevent premature ripening of fresh produce.

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