PREVIEW

AssetID: 35819947

Headline: Amazing Sticker Could Keep Fruit Fresh For Up to 2 Weeks Longer

Caption: PICTURE SHOWS: A Mango during 5 days ripening - without and with Stixfresh sticker ... STORY COPY: A company claim a simple sticker can keep fruit fresh for up to two weeks longer. Stixfresh say the easy peel adhesive, which resembles a normal fruit branding sticker, has a coating made up of an all-natural formula of specially sourced beeswax and other natural ingredients. The compounds within the formulation work together to create a protective layer around the fruit. The innovation could revolutionise the food industry, with Stixfresh claiming that in the U.S. alone, from farm to fridge, "52 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables go to waste." The Seattle-based company announced in December 2018 they have received significant initial investment for product development and research to create and refine an effective formulation. They say studies conducted through collaborations with industry experts have shown that by slowing down the ripening process, Stixfresh can extend the freshness of a wide variety of fruits by up to 50 percent. In February 2019, they will launch a crowdfunding campaign giving individuals the first opportunity to test the product and "join Stixfresh in the mission to create the most effective solution possible". The company explain: "Easily peel and place Stixfresh stickers on apples, pears, avocados, dragon fruits, kiwis, mangos, oranges and other citrus fruits to help keep them firm, sweet and juicy." The idea behind Stixfresh was originally developed by Malaysian inventor Zhafri Zainudin. The partnership to introduce the product worldwide began after Moody Soliman, entrepreneur and co-founder of Stixfresh, and Zainudin had a chance encounter through an industry conference in Dubai. “We immediately saw the promise of Stixfresh at a global level,” said Soliman. “Because we were able to offer our technical background, expertise in product development and a shared vision to impact people’s lives and solve global challenges, it was a great fit.” “We’re not creating a new step in the process, we’re replacing it with a better product,” adds Soliman. The company says Stixfresh uses the "ubiquitous fruit sticker as a launching pad for an all-natural substance that has proven effective in keeping a wide variety of fruits fresh, up to 14 days longer, reducing food waste and saving consumers money." “In the U.S. alone, from farm to fridge, 52 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables go to waste. Globally, that’s an annual loss in the tens of billions of dollars,” says Soliman. “According to the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the average U.S. household loses $1,800 annually to food waste.” “We’re working with natural, safe substances,” says Soliman. The specially sourced ingredients used in the formulation are said to have a GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the entrepreneurs believe there is great potential demand for Stixfresh at the commercial level for large producers, they also believe they can provide a solution to individual consumers and families that eat fresh, organic products and want to make a positive global impact with their choices, as well as address their own household food waste. “The beauty is in the simplicity,” said Soliman. “By just adding the sticker to fruit you can keep it farm fresh by up to 2 weeks and save money.” “Certainly we’re excited to continue the development of Stixfresh, but we also want to engage consumers who are passionate about promoting healthy food, healthy families and a healthy planet,” said Soliman. “Not only can they bring the product to market through the crowdfunding investment, but their input about how it’s working in their homes will be invaluable in refining the product.”

Keywords:

PersonInImage: