Fruit Logistica names 2017 Innovation Award nominees

The ten selected innovations for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) will be presented from Feb. 8-10, in a special exhibition area at Fruit Logistica located between Halls 20 and 21. The winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 10.

The Innovation Award winner is chosen by more than 70,000 trade visitors from over 130 countries who attend the exhibition. Fruit Logistica attendees cast their vote for the innovation of the year on the first two days of the trade fair.

The ten nominees are listed below with descriptions provided by Fruit Logistica:

• “BE-Cube Demountable Pallet Box System”, Beekenkamp Verpakkingen B.V., Netherlands
  A flexible, space-saving multi-purpose pallet box system, which is both lightweight and completely collapsible, available with tilting and base emptying functions.
• “Crisp Fresh Watermelon”, Syngenta, France
  A seedless watermelon cultivated specially for fresh-cut processing with firm, dark red fruit pulp, reduced liquid loss and extended shelf life.
• “Knox – Delayed pinking in fresh cut lettuce”, Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel BV, Netherlands
  A specially developed natural solution to delay so-called “pinking” in cut lettuce, extending shelf life at POS by one or two days.

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  “Mango Peeler & De-Cheeker”, ZTI Smart Machines, Netherlands
  A mango peeling and de-cheeking machine with dynamic insert clamps, specially developed spikes and fine, adjustable peeling knives for an exact, product friendly cutting process.

• “Natupol Excel – Bee Vision”, Koppert Biological Systems, Netherlands
  A specially developed beehive to optimize pollination in the greenhouse under artificial lighting. It has integrated navigation aids for the bees using reflective signals and a special coating.
• “SoFruBox System”, SoFruPak, Poland
  A new environmentally friendly packaging system with bottomless trays and compatible individually vented SoFruMiniPak containers to optimize cooling and ventilation.

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  “Streamer Automatic Spiralizer”, Turatti srl, Italy
  A spiral cutting machine for the high volume handling of vegetables to produce pasta-like shapes such as spaghetti, tagliatelle, rings and even gnocchi-like cores.

• “Sustainable Grow Bag for Tasty Tomatoes”, Greenyard Horticulture Belgium, Belgium
  A fully compostable growbag filled with 100 percent organic substrate for the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables such as tomatoes and other products.
• “The Cracking Monkey – Pili Nuts”, Die Frischebox GmbH, Germany
  A pre-germinated nut from the Philippines with high levels of Vitamin E, pre-scored for easy opening with the special stainless steel cracker and sold in environmentally friendly cotton bags.
• “Yello – The Color of Taste”, VI.P/VOG, Italy
  A sweet and crunchy yellow apple variety of Shinano Gold, a Japanese cross between Golden Delicious and Senshu.

Detailed information on the FLIA shortlist to follow in January.