Seen and heard at Fruit Logistica 2024 — Part 3

BERLIN — From new tech to new tastes and so much more, innovation filled the aisles at the recent Fruit Logistica, held Feb. 7-9 at Messe Berlin.

“We've had a big focus on innovation since the merger six months ago,” said Bloom Fresh's Marie-Anne de Béjarry, global marketing and communications manager.  

In August 2023, Amfresh Group, in partnership with EQT Future and Paine Schwartz Partners, acquired IFG, or International Fruit Genetics, a global table grape and cherry breeding company, and merged it with SNFL Group. The companies merged to form the global breeding entity Bloom Fresh.

The newly formed company, fueled by decades of collective genetics and natural breeding processes, is now licensing in 24 countries with a unified objective to cultivate grapes — from the earliest to the latest varieties — with a focus on flavor, health and quality, de Béjarry told The Packer. 

While premium grapes such as Cotton Candy have gained traction with consumers in the U.S. market, the table grape category has grown exponentially with some 150 varieties, de Béjarry said. To increase awareness around other high-quality flavorful table grapes, Bloom Fresh is working on developing category segmentation and creating flavor profile descriptions to communicate eating experiences to consumers in-store. The goal is to help consumers identify other grapes they might like based on their current flavor preferences.

Another area of innovation for the company is in developing varieties that are resistant to the primary fungus impacting table grapes as well as climate-resilient low-chill cherries.

‘It's part of agriculture now,” de Béjarry said. “We have to adapt to disease and heat.” 

Related news:

• Amfresh and EQT acquire IFG, launch new global breeding company
• Bloom Fresh unveils new corporate identity at Fruit Attraction 2023

Labor meets bionic solution

One of the most innovative labor-related solutions at Fruit Logistica was in play at the German Bionic stand, where Tobias Staufenber, key account manager, demonstrated the company's apogee artificial intelligence-powered exoskeletons or smart power suits, which allow workers to lift 40 kilograms (roughly 88 pounds) with the ease of lifting just 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds).

Senior Communications Manager Markus Woltmann said the technology initially launched in the logistics space with companies such as DHL and FedEx. At Fruit Logistica, German Bionics touted a more recent use case with Himbert, a Germany-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler that recognized that the physical strain of carrying and palletizing heavy product boxes can take a toll on workers' health.

The smart suit, now in its sixth generation, helps prevent lower back injury and gives walking assistance as it straps to the legs, Woltmann said.

Wearing German Bionic's Apogee suits not only compensates for approximately 30 tons of weight daily, but also enhances operational efficiency through real-time data analysis. An app aggregates data including hours the smart suit is used a day, number of lifts, steps and more.

When workers wear the smart suit, there's not only fewer injuries, but also fewer employees out on worker's compensation, Woltmann continued.

German Bionic's AI-powered suits were nominated for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award at Fruit Logistica 2024.

An industry ripe for tech

Mission Produce featured its advanced ripe-room technology, Mission Control, at Fruit Logistica. The company says Mission Control uses next-level precision for atmosphere-controlled ripening to achieve as much as a 38% improvement in quality consistency, compared to the industry standard ripening system.

“We control the ripeness of our avocados,” Paul Frowde, managing director for Mission Produce U.K. and Europe, told The Packer about the program.

And while it's an important selling point to have control over the ripeness of its fruit, Mission is intimately involved in the entire process from farm to table, Frowde said.

Related news: Mission Produce to showcase ripening innovation at Fruit Logistica

As Mission Produce owns the orchards from which its avocados hail, its customers know where the fruit is coming from and can have confidence in the food safety practices, worker welfare and sustainability practices all along the way, Frowde continued.

“As a vertically integrated grower-packer-shipper, our advantage is that we can bring the retailer as close to the product as possible,” he said.

In response to the success Mission Produce U.K. achieved with its ripening technology in its first year, the company says it's doubling its ripening capacity at its forward distribution center in Dartford, U.K.

Related coverage:

• Seen and heard at Fruit Logistica 2024 — Part 1
• Seen and heard at Fruit Logistica 2024 — Part 2