Maintaining freshness in fruits and vegetables has become one of the key challenges for the fresh produce sector, particularly in a context marked by longer supply chains, tighter regulations and increasing pressure to reduce food waste.
Against this backdrop, technologies aimed at extending shelf life are gaining relevance across the value chain. Nutriac is one of the companies working in this field, developing solutions designed to slow down natural deterioration processes while preserving product quality and safety.
What are currently the main challenges in fresh produce preservation in Spain, and how does your technology position itself as a key solution to these challenges?
Spain is one of the largest producers and exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe, which means that maintaining product quality throughout long supply chains is a constant challenge. Producers and processors must ensure that products remain fresh, visually appealing, and safe during transportation and distribution, often across several countries and many days.
At the same time, the industry faces increasing pressure to reduce food waste, minimize the use of additives, and meet strict regulatory and sustainability requirements.
Nutriac’s technologies are designed specifically to address these challenges. Our shelf-life extension solutions help slow down natural deterioration processes such as oxidation, moisture loss, and microbial growth. By doing so, they allow processors and exporters to maintain product quality for longer periods, reduce waste, and improve logistical flexibility without compromising food safety or product integrity.
What exactly does your shelf-life extension system consist of?
Our system consists of scientifically designed formulations that are applied to fresh or fresh-cut fruits and vegetables during processing. These formulations act by controlling the main mechanisms responsible for quality degradation, such as enzymatic browning, oxidation, and texture deterioration.
The solutions are typically applied through simple processes such as dipping or spraying and are designed to integrate easily into existing processing lines. Each formulation is adapted to the specific product, processing conditions, and desired shelf life.
At Nutriac, we work closely with processors to develop customized applications that match their operational requirements and market needs.
On what types of products are you currently applying your solutions, and what results are you achieving?
Our technologies are currently applied across a wide range of fresh and fresh-cut products, including fruits such as avocados, apples, bananas, papayas, melons, as well as vegetables used in ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook applications.
Depending on the product and processing conditions, our solutions can significantly extend shelf life—often by several days and, in some applications, up to two to three weeks—while preserving key quality attributes such as color, texture, and freshness. This added shelf life is particularly valuable for distribution efficiency, retail presentation, and export markets, while also improving consistency and reducing waste.
Our portfolio includes several specialized solution ranges:
- NutriFresh®: Anti-browning and firming formulations based on synergistic blends of antioxidants and organic components. They inhibit enzymatic discoloration (e.g. PPO activity) and preserve the natural appearance and texture of fresh-cut produce, with flexible application methods such as dipping or spraying.
- NutriCoat®: Edible coating systems that form an invisible, tasteless layer on whole fruits, creating a modified atmosphere at the individual fruit level. This reduces respiration and ethylene activity, effectively extending shelf life without impacting sensory characteristics.
- BioClean®: A food-safe antimicrobial solution designed to reduce microbial load on fresh-cut produce and processing surfaces, offering performance comparable to traditional sanitizers while avoiding harmful residues.
- SeaFresh®: A targeted treatment for shrimp and crustaceans that prevents melanosis (black spots) by inhibiting the responsible enzymes. It is non-corrosive and residue-free, offering a safer alternative to sulphite-based treatments.
- PotatoWash®: A cost-efficient solution for fresh-cut potatoes that prevents discoloration, maintains post-frying color, and can reduce frying time, making it particularly attractive for high-volume food service operations.
From your perspective, what would you like the market —and also consumers— to better understand about food preservation processes and the safety of these technologies?
One important point is that modern food preservation technologies are designed with safety, transparency, and sustainability in mind.
Many consumers associate shelf-life extension with artificial or heavily processed products, but in reality, many technologies used today simply control natural processes that cause fruits and vegetables to deteriorate. The goal is not to change the product but to maintain its natural quality for longer.
At Nutriac, our focus is on scientifically validated solutions that comply with food safety regulations and are designed to preserve freshness while reducing food waste. Extending shelf life responsibly is not only beneficial for producers and retailers but also for the environment and the overall efficiency of the food system.
What are the main advantages of working with Nutriac compared to other solutions available on the market?
One of Nutriac’s main strengths is our customized approach. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all product, we work closely with each processor to develop solutions that are tailored to their specific products, processing lines, and shelf-life requirements.
Another important advantage is our strong focus on research and development. Our formulations are developed through continuous testing and collaboration with industry partners to ensure consistent and measurable results.
Finally, we aim to provide not just a product but a complete technical partnership. This includes technical support, trial optimization, and ongoing collaboration to help our partners achieve the best possible performance from their fresh produce operations.
