SanLucar has partnered with ripening specialist vanWylick to launch a premium range of bananas ripened using innovative sustainable technology.
SanLucar bananas are grown in the coastal region of Los Ríos in Ecuador. To ensure that they reach the consumer in optimum premium quality every day, the ripening of bananas is a fundamental process in the supply chain.
With new partner vanWylick, SanLucar said bananas can be ripened in a controlled way, which tests show leads to improved taste and longer shelf life.
Unlike traditional ripening systems, where the fruit is often ripened according to a predefined pattern, standardized parameters and a lot of manual work, modern systems allow you to monitor the process precisely and ensure more careful ripening.
The technology uses intelligent software to adjust and control air and all-natural breathing gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and ethylene, a fruit gas, so that the fruit ripens optimal.
During the whole process, the fruit is placed in a closed gas-tight chamber in which the respiratory activity and thus the physiological state of the fruit is continuously measured.
The harmonious interplay of oxygen, heat, moisture and ethylene – while maintaining CO2 level – ensures that the bananas develop smoothly until they are ready to eat.
SanLucar said the location of its farms also makes a valuable contribution to the special quality of its bananas.
“Hacienda Magdalena is located in an area particularly well suited to uniform growth and careful cultivation. SanLucar bananas ripen particularly evenly for a period of 12 to 14 weeks in the central coastal region of Ecuador,” the company said in a press release.
“The temperature and rainfall conditions facilitate quality-oriented and sustainable cultivation. For this reason, fertilizers and pesticides are only used when absolutely necessary.
“As an additional action to protect the environment, native trees are planted along the banks. All this in line with the corporate philosophy of SanLucar: “Taste in harmony with people and nature”.
As part of the company’s commitment to the region, SanLucar said its employees receive free meals (breakfast and lunch) and their children benefit from school scholarships, as well as the DREAMS school support program in surrounding communities.
“With our green products from Ecuador and the new sustainable and careful ripening technique, SanLucar is launching a new premium banana. The aim is to convince our customers with the quality, appearance, taste, shelf life and a real premium banana during the 12 months of the year,” said Armin Rehberg, CEO of SanLucar’s operations.
In the store, SanLucar accompanies the sale and presentation of bananas with secondary placements, as well as promotional actions and materials.
The first SanLucar bananas with the new careful and sustainable ripening technology can be expected from the beginning of March.
