SOUTH AFRICA – Sanifruit, a Spain-based company, is expanding its presence in South Africa in its sixth season of active work in the country.
Initially focused on packhouses in the Eastern Cape, the company has now extended its reach to Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Sanifruit’s aim is to address some of the challenges faced by citrus packhouses, such as resistance to traditional chemicals and changes in regulations concerning active ingredients.
Tomás Lucas, director of sales at Sanifruit, explains the situation in South African packhouses: “In a number of packhouses in Limpopo and Eastern Cape, they are beginning to see imazalil’s effectiveness decrease due to severe resistance. This presents a challenge as there aren’t any clear alternatives with comparable efficacy.”
Additionally, he points out that there is pressure to reduce the maximum residue levels and the number of active ingredients in response to both European legislation and retail requirements.
Chemicals traditionally used in packhouses, like imazalil and fludioxanil, will be banned by Europe in the coming years.
Lucas notes that South African citrus exports are not solely influenced by European regulations. He mentions that other markets, such as India, prohibit the use of thiabendazole, while Indonesia and other countries like Korea and Japan have placed additional restrictions on the use of post-harvest chemicals like imazalil.
Sanifruit’s distributor in South Africa, Suidchem, works closely with Sanifruit to provide a range of soaps, sanitizers, and coatings that help packhouses comply with regulations.
This allows for the more efficient use of actives in spraying programs in the orchards. As a result, South Africa has become one of the largest markets for Sanifruit’s products, which the company plans to expand to neighboring countries next year.
Innovative products for citrus protection
One of Sanifruit’s most popular products in South Africa is Sani D, a surface sanitizer that uses potassium sorbate.
It’s applied to drenchers before degreening and the packline’s fungicide bath without affecting pH levels. Lucas states that using Sanifruit’s sanitizers allows packhouses to reduce their use of chemicals, lowering maximum residue levels (MRLs).
“Sani D has shown excellent control of pathogens in the packline, helping combat diseases such as sour and brown rot and sooty mold,” he says.
Lucas also addresses food waste as a major challenge. “Sani D and Sani C are very effective in reducing fruit waste in the packhouse and on arrival.”
Vegan coatings and chilling injury prevention
Sanifruit offers coatings that are vegan and edible, composed of sucrose esters of fatty acids, unlike traditional polyethylene shellac waxes, which are neither vegetarian nor vegan.
Lucas mentions that the company’s coatings minimize weight loss and extend shelf life, accommodating longer shipping periods.
The coatings also help avoid chilling injuries during cold sterilization and other skin-related issues like soft fruit on pomelos or peteca on lemons.
Organic growers are exploring the use of Sani RC L to protect against chilling injury and other problems.
Many packhouses in South Africa use a combination of Sanifruit’s soaps, sanitizers, and coatings to protect the fruit while reducing MRLs.
“Sanifruit’s products offer South African packhouse managers solutions to some of their concerns,” Lucas concludes.
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