Hazel creates packaging inserts, or sachets, that release ethylene inhibitors and other natural chemicals to slow down the ripening process of many fruits and vegetables.
In almost all plants, senescence is accelerated by ethylene gas, a hormone that plants produce as they age or are damaged. For decades, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gas has been used to inhibit ethylene action in plants and produce industrially. Despite the near-universality of ethylene in plant senescence, 1-MCP is used only in select crops and only at the earliest points in the supply chain. Use of 1-MCP is limited by current application techniques, which depend on short-term treatments.
Hazel®️ is small packaging insert that is placed in the box during packing to reduce respiration rate and increase resistance to ethylene.
The basis for their technologies is the controlled release of active ingredients from solid materials. It starts with natural materials and modify them to become functional for storing and time-releasing atmospheric active ingredients. The core innovation is the controlled release – They are not inventing new types of active ingredients, but rather allowing a more dynamic deployment of industry standard and food-safe active ingredients that have been academically validated.
USDA-funded Hazel™ Endure product line, the active ingredient released from our clamshell liner is an organic anti-fungal vapor that prevents mold and decay. For crops like avocados and apples, the active ingredients they use neutralize the effects of ethylene, a hormone that many fruits and vegetables release which self-triggers continued ripening and eventually, spoilage.
Different crops have entirely different respiration rates and ethylene production levels. As a result, each Hazel™ product is tailored to that specific crop. The form factor of the product remains the same, however, which allows for flexible application by any customer regardless of the product’s formula.
Hazel Datica -Postharvest Technology Designed toMonitor Levels of Temperature, Humidity, Ethylene and other Atmospheric Components for Apples, Blueberries, Kiwi, Avocado, and Other Crops during Transit or Storage