Fruit Logistica Innovation Award winners to be announced

The annual Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards competition will culminate in the announcement of the winners Friday, Feb. 9 at the huge trade show in Berlin. More than 75,000 visitors are casting their votes on the two days prior to the announcement for the innovation of the year.

Here are some of the finalists for the award.

The Malver from Turatti is an electromechanical system for the precise automatic peeling of all types of pitted and halved mango with an average capacity of approximately 48 pieces per minute. Automatically adjusting to the size of the mango, Malver automatically removes the peel and can slice the mango in a number of selectable configurations.

The Adora from HM. Clause is a firm, dark-brown Marmande tomato. It has a balanced intense sweet-tour taste and extended shelf life.

The Ulti-Mite Swirski from Koppert Biological Systems is a compostable bag containing a breeding medium for the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii developed for the biological control of thrips.

The H2Hybrid from H2Hydroponics is a patented nursery and irrigation system for hydroponic plant breeding using oxygen enrichment to reduce water consumption by up to 80 percent and energy consumption by up to 25 percent.

Israeli company Croptimal has introduced an in-field laboratory for agricultural testing. This mobile technological solution can carry out accurate real-time practical tests on crops, soil and water over a period of minutes rather than days.

LogoFrucht from Kellermeister Manns is a process for printing on fruit and vegetables of any shape. Round objects can be accurately and individually printed with a neutral, water-resistant, high-contrast food coloring that is gentle on the product.

The Alberts Smoothie Station from Greenyard is a vending machine that prepares 100 percent natural smoothies from frozen fruits and vegetables based on the user’s own individual selection and recipe.