Company Facts and Figures
- Over 60 years of experience
- More than 70 employees
- Over €25 million turnover
- Presence in 70+ countries
- Leading company in the controlled and generated atmosphere sector
DCA-CF Global Adoption
Worldwide Presence
- South Africa, CIS, South America, Central Asia, United States, India, Europe, New Zealand, Australia
Number of Commercial DCA-CF Rooms Worldwide
| Year | Rooms |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1231 |
| 2014 | 1494 |
| 2015 | 1685 |
| 2016 | 1832 |
| 2017 | 1979 |
| 2018 | 2231 |
| 2019 | 2500 |
| 2020 | 2546 |
| 2021 | 2747 |
| 2022 | 2912 |
| 3500 (current) |
UK Adoption
- Number of commercial DCA-CF rooms in the UK increasing every year:
- 2013: 62
- 2014: 80
- 2015: 100
- 2016: 118
- 2017: 112
- 2018: 106
- 2019: 120
- 2020: 145
- 2021: 160
- 11 out of 13 customers in the UK equipped with DCA-CF, some in their 9th season.
Kent: Then and Now
- Previous storage: O₂ 1–3%, CO₂ 5%
- Current storage: O₂ 0.4–1%, CO₂ 0.5–1.2%
Switzerland
- DCA-CF rooms uptake growing (2014–2020): 120 rooms
Australia
- Number of commercial DCA-CF rooms still increasing:
- 2014: 188
- 2015: 200
- 2016: 250
- 2017: 253
- 2018: 271
- 2019: 300
- 2020: 290
- 2021: 312
- 2022: 350
- 23 customers in Australia (VIC, QLD, NSW, WA) equipped with DCA-CF; 17 already using the system, some in their 8th season for pears and apples.
USA
- DCA-CF rooms uptake growing:
- 2018: 440
- 2019: 450
- 2020: 500
South Africa
- DCA-CF rooms uptake growing (2014–2021): 250 rooms
Varieties Stored Using Isolcell ISOSTORE® DCA-CF
Apple Varieties
Bramley, Braeburn, Envy, Cox Orange, Elstar, Jazz, Topaz, Modi, Juliette, Rubens, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Joya, Honeycrisp, Idared, Ligol, Jonagold, Tentation, Kanzi, Maigold, Winesap, Morgenduft (Rome Beauty), Red Delicious, Cortland, Pink Lady (Rosy Glow), Pinova (Evelina), Ambrosia, Szampion, Semerinka, Belchard.
Countries: Italy, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Israel, France, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Serbia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Greece, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Poland, Czech Republic, Morocco, Turkey, India, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Moldova, USA, Canada, Romania, Russia, Hungary.
Pear Varieties
WILLAMS (BARLETT), LUISE BONNE, PACKHAM’S TRIUMPH, RED ANJOU, CONFERENCE, NASHI, FORELLE, SPADONA, BLANQUILLA, PERA ROCHA, ANJOU, ABATE FETEL*, LUKAS, COMICE, ANKARA, SANTA MARIA, KAISER ALEXANDER (BOSC).
Countries: Italy, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Israel, France, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Turkey.
DCA-CF Lessons Learned
Sensor Fitting
- Fitting the DCA-CF F.I.R.M fluorescence sensor is essential for accurate monitoring.
Sample Fruit Selection
- The HarvestWatch sample chamber (“kennel”) holds ~6 marketable-size fruit.
- Fruit should be representative of the entire lot.
Kennel Placement
- Kennels can be placed anywhere in the room, typically in the corner by the door (easy access, warmest place) or on a shelf by the sampling hatch.
- Kennels and sensors must be kept in the dark; black out observation windows.
HarvestWatch Software
- Detects various physiological stresses:
- Increased CO₂
- Low temperature
- Ammonia gas
Protocols
- Protocols must be tailored for each variety and storage condition.
Example: Dynamics of the Lower Oxygen Limit (LOL)
| Variety | October 10–19 | December 1–4 |
|---|---|---|
| Red Delicious | 0.85% | 0.47% |
| Golden Delicious | 0.92% | 0.45% |
| Honeycrisp | 0.90% | 0.50% |
| Empire | 0.90% | 0.88% |
System Requirements
- CA rooms, tents, bags, or containers
- PSA N₂ Generator
- New generation CO₂ scrubbers
- Isolcell ISOSTORE® system
Client Testimonials & Practical Experience
- Orchards have individual requirements; different orchards react differently in store.
- DCA systems allow monitoring of fruit activity, not just the gas regime.
- Customers are increasingly aware of fruit quality after purchase (flavour, texture).
2015 Crop Example
- Clear differences between orchards in respiration and maturity.
- Stress spikes varied significantly between orchards harvested at the same time.
- Regimes tailored to each store.
- Fruit pressure comparison: same Braeburn orchard in two different regimes.
Practical Advantages of DCA-CF
- Wider picking window
- Reduced respiration intensity
- Reduced costs, time, and post-harvest chemicals
- No risk of fermentation
- Increased fruit quality
- Continuous measurement system
- User-friendly, fully computerized, no risk for the operator
Main Advantages of DCA-CF
- Increased pack out
- Reduced rots and fruit damage
- Reduction of internal browning
- Increased colour retention, firmness, and flavour
- Longer shelf-life
- Scald control without post-harvest chemical treatments (advantage in export and organic markets)
Moving Forward
- Energy conservation: DCA-CF reduces fruit respiration, allowing equipment to work less and enabling higher storage temperatures, saving energy.
- More real-time information: New technologies are being incorporated to monitor other quality parameters.
- New varieties and products: DCA-CF is used to determine storage parameters for new varieties and is being trialed on GOLD Kiwi.
Events
- Interpoma, Bolzano, Italy: November 17–19, 2022
Closing
- Trusted partner for South Africa
- Thank you!
Questions?