“By the end of 2022, > 4 million tonnes of apples and pears were being stored in > 3,049 DCA-CF rooms in >33 countries worldwide.”
This new technology was developed and patented in Canada in 2001 by a research team led by Dr. Robert Prange and Dr. John DeLong. Further research evaluation was conducted internationally, especially by Dr. Angelo Zanella of the Agricultural Research Institute Laimburg Italy which led to commercialisation in the U.S.A and Italy in 2003-2004.
The technology detects stress, e.g., low oxygen, by continuously monitoring changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence of the stored product. The major application of HarvestWatch technology is in dynamic controlled atmosphere-chlorophyll fluorescence (DCA-CF) storage of fruits and vegetables.
is distributed by Isolcell S.p.A. It consists of all the necessary software and hardware to continuously measure the chlorophyll fluorescence (Fα) of stored fruits and vegetables.
The HarvestWatch system directly measures the fruit’s response to low oxygen conditions by analysing the fluorescence intensity emitted from the chlorophyll in the skin of the fruit.
The fluorescence intensity changes rapidly when anaerobic respiration is triggered indicating the Low Oxygen Limit.
HarvestWatch instantly indicates the fruit stress at the Low Oxygen Limit and allows for corrective measures to be taken.
apple fruit that are unmarketable due to Superficial Scald.
apple fruit that are 100% marketable
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