SaniStone: the natural postharvest solution for cherries from Spain

In 2021, Sanifruit launched SaniStone on the market, a postharvest solution designed to extend the shelf life of cherries.

The Valencian company Sanifruit, a specialist in natural postharvest solutions, continues to advance in the study and improvement of its formulations, supported by results validated by research institutes such as Cycitex, IRTA or the University of Zaragoza.

Aware of the challenges related to export, at Sanifruit we aim to minimize claims at destination from cherry exporting companies, as well as to increase their profitability through the reduction of product losses, while respecting people's health and the environment.

Sanifruit postharvest program

Sanifruit, through its technical-commercial service, works closely with its clients in other aspects of the process such as the disinfection and maintenance of tanks, treatment and disinfection in the hydrocooling system, the design of LyD plans, and the disinfection and treatment of fruit in storage or precooling chambers.

The postharvest process for cherries is carried out almost entirely in water – dumping, return, packing – therefore, managing this water correctly throughout the process is very important and will determine the success of the campaign.

This management involves treating the water to maintain its hygiene at an adequate level, as water can also act as a vector of infections.

Sanistone

SaniStone is a 100% natural treatment, certified by CAEE as an input suitable for organic farming, made from food-grade plant extracts. It is also certified as zero-residue by Zerya.

In the case of fruits like cherries, it is especially important to use a residue-free postharvest product, as it is a fruit that is always consumed with its skin: this protects consumer health by preventing the ingestion of food treated with phytosanitary products.

SaniStone is a natural and effective postharvest solution for cherries, helping reduce dehydration and stem browning, which, along with decay, are the main market challenges for cherry exporters.

SaniStone ensures the fruit reaches the market with a better appearance, delaying natural senescence during storage and transport. It therefore extends the fruit's shelf life and offers better protection against external agents, while avoiding the use of active substances.

Main effects of the treatment

The natural postharvest solution SaniStone, as an alternative to fungicides, has four main effects:

• Elicitor: increases the fruit's natural defenses.
• Preservative: delays decomposition and extends shelf life.
• Antioxidant: prevents damage caused by oxidation associated with senescence.
• Coating: protects against metabolic reactions of ripening and the action of external agents causing fruit decay.

At Sanifruit, we recommend that for this campaign it is important to act preventively and apply SaniStone treatment from the beginning, without waiting to detect the problem at the packing center or upon arrival.

This work must be planned by each center, providing the necessary means to implement cleaning, disinfection, ethylene removal and fruit treatment processes so that the fruit reaches its destination healthy, with an appealing appearance for the consumer and an extended shelf life until consumption.

Jerte cherry

In 2022, Cicytex (Scientific and Technological Research Center of Extremadura) carried out a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the SaniStone product, both in its version for tanks or drenchers, and in its version for in-line application via nebulization, comparing it with a competing fungicide, on a crop of Lapins cherries, produced and harvested in the Jerte Valley region.

As shown in the chart (Fig. 1), these results highlight the effectiveness of Sanifruit’s natural treatments in controlling fungal diseases in stone fruit through treatment with the SaniStone product.

As shown in the chart (Fig. 2), these results also show that, in relation to the percentage of commercial fruit, although no significant differences were observed during cold storage, a positive effect was noted from the SaniStone treatment during the fruit's shelf life, with cherries treated with SaniStone showing a higher percentage of commercial fruit during 0+2 SL and 7+4 SL periods.

Sanifruit
Valencia Fruits

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