Netherlands-based Center for the Promotion of Imports has stated that avocado consumption in Europe increased by 25% in 2018 alone, with import volumes exceeding 600 million tons. The growing popularity of avocados has put stress on the whole supply chain, which emphasizes the need for special care and attention to transportation and warehousing.
For Assistant Director of Agrícola Ocoa, David Restrepo, the quest to improve the post-harvest process is a significant factor in his company’s response to the demands of the industry. Agrícola Ocoa wants to ensure their avocados reach customers in the best condition possible, with minimal waste. Avocados are locally produced at their large scale production facilities, Urrao and Valle del Cauca Farms, and exported worldwide.
“We wanted to find where we are putting stress on the fruits so we can make improvements to our logistics chain” David Restrepo told ukexportnews.co.uk. “We needed data to highlight areas of potential damage and the ImpacTrack was the solution.”
Manufactured by UK
-based Martin Lishman Ltd, ImpacTrack is an award-winning shock-sensing data logger housed in synthetic carrier shells that mimic the shapes and densities of many varieties of real fruit and vegetables. Shock and temperature sensors inside the ‘Electronic Avocado’ track the movements of fruit through the different stages of production, highlighting areas that could cause potential damage through high impacts or sudden changes in temperature, and prompting immediate remedial action to equipment or processes.