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P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y 1 1 T h u r s d a y, M a y 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 Temperature management is the most important factor in reducing the deterio- ration of produce and maximizing post- harvest life. Different types of fruits and vegetables require specific temperature environments in order to maintain the freshness, flavor, and quality of a prod- uct. High temperatures, as well as "chill- ing injury," can occur during the cold chain, and deteriorate shelf life signifi- cantly. Therefore a meticulous approach to the handling, transportation, and stor- age of produce is essential. Because qual- ity produce is vital for repeat sales, the introduction of a sub-par product to mar- ket can threaten a company's reputation. As a result, temperature monitoring is clearly a fundamental and necessary tool for produce supply chains, beneficial to all stakeholders involved including growers, distributors and grocers. Pimware's products are designed to monitor temperature, calculate shelf life and provide track and trace capabilities during production, shipping and storage. Pimware's product line includes:PIM tags (Product Integrity Monitors) to be placed on the products, containers or directly within the field, remotes to read and send information wirelessly, readers to upload information to company data- base and/or PIM controlsoftware to gath- er, analyze, and report data. Pimware's products benefit the pro- duce industry by tracking pallets being shipped for market distribution. All tem- peratures will be documented during shipment to ensure that a stable environ- ment is maintained by trucks and/or warehouses used during the cold chain process and all information can be read in real-time so that handling decisions can be made appropriately. Tags provide tracking of: shipments through different checkpoints, handling by different employees and arrival/departure times for different locations. Therefore all logistical data is documented, and if the produce is compromised during the sup- ply chain, the exact location this occurred can be identified. Pimware products can also be used to monitor temperature of the field itself to identify any significant temperature fluctuations throughout the growing sea- son. High and low temperature measure- ments are used in calculating daily Growing Degree Days (GDD), a tool that can be used to predict these important growth stages (i.e. pruning, ripening). Field and farm management decisions such as pruning, fertilization, irrigation and pest control, can best be made when including temperature considerations. Specific types of fruit/vegetables require different climates for optimal growth and production. Temperature sensors track changes throughout the year to help determine the best varietals for the grow- ing environment. Pimware can also be utilized by gro- cers themselves, when determining the best shelving of produce in the market. Pimware will allow grocers to make product-placement decisions for each specific product and monitor the store temperature for quality preservation. Grocers can identify which shipments should be shelved first based on shelf-life computations, and also determine whether a product should be removed from shelving, or whether it can remain for sale longer than anticipated. For the latter, allowing produce that still main- tains quality past the predetermined sell- by date can save grocery stores money in the long term, as well as reduce waste and financial leakage. For more information, visit booth 1338 at United Fresh 2013, go online to www.pimware.com, call 866-256-0905 or email sales@pimware.com. PIMWARE PROVIDES USEFUL TOOLS FOR THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY By Tony Harmon, Vice President of Business Development Sugar Foods Corporation is a leading manufacturer/packager of toppers and ingredients. Our products are offered by leading retailers and foodservice distrib- utors, and are used by restaurants and packers of a wide array of products to enhance flavor, texture and color of their consumer offerings. Sugar Foods covers the toppers cate- gory with more than 2,500 SKUs of crou- tons, tortilla products, wontons and crispy noodles, crispy vegetables, and dried fruit and nuts. SFC is a leading manufacturer/marketer of stuffing and bread crumb. We have also developed an ever-growing line of tortilla-based coat- ings. While we pride ourselves on our success in product innovation, customer care and account servicing are also key components of Sugar Foods' market suc- cess. Our manufacturing/packaging facil- ities are designed to enhance flexibility and innovation in packaging. We work with our customers to provide our prod- ucts in a format that fits the customer's needs; not our own manufacturing effi- ciencies. Whether the customer wants a 0.25-ounce packet, a 400 pound tote or anything in between, our facilities are designed to accommodate those specific needs. With manufacturing/distribution centers located in Villa Rica, Ga., and Los Angeles, Sugar Foods is positioned to develop efficient customer specific logistics programs designed to minimize the cost impact of freight and materials handling. At Sugar Foods, our mission state- ment is summed up in four words: The customer is king. Visit us at the United Fresh Expo at booth No. 348 and let's discuss how we can make you a king. For more information, visit booth 348 at the United Fresh Show, go online to www.sugarfoods.com, call 865-548-1041 or email tharmon@sugarfoods.com. SUGAR FOODS CORPORATION SUITS CUSTOMERS' NEEDS FOR INGREDIENTS Salad harvest operations are a challeng- ing use for handheld totes and bins. The machinery handles them fast rather than carefully and the forces and loads are high. This intensity lasts all year and the result has been a relatively short life for earlier generation totes. Taylor Farms wanted a much tougher harvest tote, and began a collab- oration with InterCrate, a reusable plastic container producer, to get this right. This next generation tote is called the FreshTote, and it has made a big differ- ence. Designing a sturdier corner section and an entire double wall around the perimeter, means a more impact oriented copolymer material can be used. A lighter built tote has to choose between being rigid enough or using a high impact material. A tote that is more solid by design can be rigid enough with a more pliable impact material. Exposed external ribs were also entirely eliminated. Most tote damage is to exposed external ribs as these catch on machinery and forklifts. A better geome- try combined with a more impact orient- ed material has greatly reduced breakage. The FreshTote slides easily past machin- ery because the exterior presents a smoother surface. DO YOUR SALAD HARVEST TOTES BREAK? INTERCRATE HAS THE ANSWER Once you have a strong material with a more forgiving geometry, the final step is to incorporate a metal detecting additive. These three factors together ensure no stray pieces of plastic get into the finished product. This is a useful improvement in a quality program. InterCrate's FDA compliant, proven pro- prietary metal detection additive is also available with color choice. A tote that breaks doesn't just cost its replacement value. A broken tote impos- es risk and cost and reducing breakage of totes is a good way to improve quality and reduce operational cost. Some additional operational advan- tages were also incorporated. Smooth inside and out is better for the salad and workers. Sturdy larger composite bale arms are more comfortable to hold than metal swing bars and they are more com- fortable to hold against the body. The totes also nest closer which means up to 20 percent more empties in the same space for storage and empty transport. Up to 3,600 empties in a 53-foot dry trailer. The FreshTote costs more initially but being used year round easily pays for itself operationally and with lower break- age. For more information, visit www.inter- cratecontainer.com, call 800-931-8141, email justin@intercratecontainer.com or visit booth 1046. LESS FILM, CLEANER SEALS, HIGHER OEE WITH TRIANGLE'S X-SERIES AVAILABLE WITH ULTRASONIC SEALING Savings on energy, material, and labor: these are just some of the bene- fits provided by ultrasonic welding technology. As the only North American company to offer ultrasonic sealing, Triangle's X-Series VFFS Bagger has the flexibility to run tradi- tional heat sealing or ultrasonic weld- ing technology. Ultrasonic sealing offers several advantages over tradi- tional heat-sealing technology, inlcud- ing a significant reduction in leakers and improved product quality. Ultrasonics is ideal for industries that require 100 percent seal integrity for an airtight product. On average, tra- ditional heat seals measure 3/8 inches, while ultrasonic seals can be as narrow as 2 mm a potential savings of 50 to 80 percent in the sealing area alone. For many types of products, ultra- sonic sealing also requires less head- space, thanks to its ability to seal through food particles. In addition, Ultrasonic technology significantly reduces leakers and rejects due to prod- uct in the seal. In many cases, it may Continued on Page 37