This cutting-edge technology is helping Fontestad navigate limited water resources during the ongoing drought in Spain, enabling the company to significantly reduce water consumption in its fruit washing process.
"From water management to the reduction of atmospheric emissions, the company is implementing concrete measures to preserve the planet's resources and reduce its environmental footprint," said Francisco Arastey Mercader, Technical Manager at Fontestad. "This washing system has allowed us to achieve annual savings in water consumption of more than 70%. Working with Control-Tec Eco from AgroFresh has many advantages such as greater precision and consistency, as it is an automated system, it provides a precise and consistent dosing of product to help ensure that the right amounts are used in each washing and rinsing process.”
The Control-Tec Eco equipment’s advanced filtration and particle removal technology allows Fontestad to separate and remove solids and organic matter, ensuring minimal water usage while maintaining effective fruit cleaning and disinfection. The system also automatically adjusts water flow rates, detergent, and biocide doses according to fruit production, optimizing resources and minimizing waste generation.
Ian Mackellar, chief operations officer at AgroFresh, said: "Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in the solutions AgroFresh continues to bring customers across the post-harvest produce industry. These solutions not only benefit customers like Fontestad but also contribute to environmental targets measured by our retailers.”
