Chile's Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA) has developed a liquid that maintains asparagus quality for several weeks after harvest, allowing it to be transported via sea to the U.S. and still arrive in good condition. 

U.S. asparagus consumption has grown significantly, but the vegetable's highly perishable nature means Chile can only ensure quality on arrival in distant markets via air freight, which is a huge cost for many exporters.

In an attempt to overcome this problem, the FIA launched a project called Fresh Green Asparagus Innovation System through its branch of 'Innovation and Development'.

The aim of the project was to create a preservation system for asparagus to both increase Chilean exports and allow growers to better compete in the international market.

Current preservation methods tend to quickly dry dehydrate the vegetable, but the new liquid is absorbed by the asparagus during transportation or storage, so that the quality and weight are maintained as if it had been recently harvested.

The total cost of the project is CLP95,410,666 (US$173,648), of which around three quarters was supplied by the FIA.

Development took place in a lab where analysis was conducted on the effect of various organoleptic properties, such as taste, smell and touch.

Following these results, tests were carried out on produce from growers throughout Chile, with the normal harvest and post-harvest conditions.

Commercial test shipments were then sent to the U.S. to assess the practicality and viability of the liquid, and the asparagus was said to have arrived in good condition.

Innovation and Development executive Juan Carlos Galaz hailed the liquid as a big step for producers that would open up important new market opportunities.

"The goal of this innovative project was to provide a high technology solution to the problem of not being able to export asparagus via sea due to its highly perishable nature," he said.

"An asparagus conversation system has been developed that will be available to producers and exporters and allow them to become more successful, thus improving the competitiveness of Chilean asparagus."

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com