Wheatsheaf Group, the investment arm of the Grosvenor Estate in the UK, has acquired 90% of Purfresh, the San Francisco-based company using ozone technology to reduce the risk of food spoilage in ocean shipping containers.
It is estimated that at least one-third of food grown is wasted, and according to Purfresh, it is possible for as many as one out of 15 containers to get rejected when they arrive at their destination, an expensive outcome when containers carrying high-value food can be worth as much as $500,000.
Purfresh’s technology combines controlled atmosphere and active atmosphere with ozone technology to delay ripening, reduce decay, and extend the shelf life of high-value food products being shipped overseas in refrigerated shipping containers. The technology can also reduce the presence of food-borne pathogens increasing food safety standards without the use of harsh chemicals, according to the company.
Purfresh also offers its clients a cloud-based proprietary cargo monitoring software called Intellipur(r), which provides them with visibility on the conditions of their temperature-sensitive cargo. It also gives them real-time remote control to adjust the temperature, CO2 and O2 levels while their cargo is at sea.
And Purfresh gives customers a 100% guarantee on their cargoes that typically include high-value fruits such as blueberries, avocados, and mangos.
Purfresh also offers ozone atmosphere technology for non-climacteric fruit cargos such as grapes, pineapples, and citrus products. Its customers include global ocean carriers, third-party logistics companies, fruit growers and international fruit import and export companies.
The investment was made by Wheatsheaf subsidiary TriStrata Group, which offers a range of different food safety solutions including ozone technology.
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