Reflecting the growing use of controlled atmosphere (CA) technologies to maintain quality of fruits and vegetables over extended shipping times, Pacific International Lines (PIL) has successfully transported its first shipments of avocados from Kenya to Brunei using Carrier Transicold’s innovative EverFRESH® atmosphere control system.
Carrier Transicold is part of Carrier Global Corporation, the pioneer in intelligent climate and energy solution. “The EverFRESH Active CA technology has worked well for us in transporting avocadoes over a number of our key reefer trade lanes,” said Lim Chee Wei, General Manager, Logistics Division, PIL.
Higher-respiring perishables
“That success with higher-respiring perishables gave us the confidence to expand its use for shipments of Kenyan-grown avocados, and we are pleased that EverFRESH has again proven to be a success in this first shipment of avocadoes from Kenya.”
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Kenya is currently the world’s sixth largest avocado producer. Since October 2022, PIL has accomplished a number of firsts with the EverFRESH CA technology – its first shipments of avocadoes from Peru to Hong Kong, as well as from Australia to Singapore.
Controlled atmosphere systems
The positive pressure effectively built up inside the container reduces box air leakage
EverFRESH reduces respiration and slows natural ripening of commodities by optimizing oxygen and carbon dioxide balance. With it, oxygen is displaced more effectively and efficiently than ever before. The positive pressure effectively built up inside the container reduces box air leakage compared to other controlled atmosphere systems. This innovative technology helps to maintain ideal conditions during transportation while extending the shelf life of high-value commodities.
Using active CA technology, the EverFRESH system:
- Optimises the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide within a refrigerated container, slowing respiration and the natural ripening of the commodity inside.
- Generates high-purity nitrogen to more quickly and responsively displace oxygen, rather than relying on cargo respiration alone to gradually reduce oxygen levels.
- Maintains a positive air pressure within the container, making it far less sensitive to box leakage than other types of systems.
Shipments of perishable commodities
“PIL’s success with the EverFRESH system is a significant step for us to support the growing trend among shipping lines to provide controlled atmosphere technology for the benefit of their customers,” according to Leow Eng Meng, Sales Director, Asia, Global Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold.
“This is further proof for us that our customers can benefit from the improved atmosphere control of Carrier’s EverFRESH system, which allows for more precise settings and with that, more effective shipments of perishable commodities.”
