Life Extension Packaging Opens New Markets For Premium Fresh Beans

A new range of Kalfresh premium line long-life beans are putting fresh beans back on the menu in many remote areas of Australia.

Packed in re~fresh modified atmosphere packaging designed by Convex Plastics, Kalfresh beans are guaranteed to stay fresh for a minimum of two weeks and are available in bar-coded portion-controlled packs of 500g, 400g and 250g.

According to Kalfresh managing director, Robert Hinrichsen, the use of modified atmosphere packaging has opened new markets for Kalfresh by doubling the shelf-life of the beans and allowing them to arrive in prime condition after long-haul road and rail freighting from their South Queensland base to areas as far afield as Longreach, St George, Darwin and Perth.

He says, "Before switching to re~fresh packaging our beans had a shelf life of only one week which made freighting them for periods of up to four days very risky, especially when there was a possibility of fluctuating temperatures during the journey. The extra shelf-life provided by the re~fresh packaging now gives us the confidence that our beans will always arrive at their destination in good shape, whether we send them to Western Australia or somewhere in the outback."

The new re~fresh packaging is also expected to enhance the shelf appeal of the Kalfresh beans by maintaining their fresh appearance and preventing any of the premature browning or wilting problems that are commonly suffered by loose beans sitting on a shelf.

Convex Plastics National sales manager, Bryant Judd, says re~fresh packaging has now been successfully developed to enhance the shelf life of a wide variety of living produce, ranging from peeled garlic and coleslaw, to stir fry mixes, broccoli and herbs.

He says, "We endeavour in every instance to develop a package that perfectly matches the respiration and ethylene sensitivity of the produce being packed as well as the outside storage temperature and humidity. By using interactive computer modelling we are now able to design customised film structures which provide life extension for almost all living produce."