After patenting the process for fumigating produce in containers in 2002, a Florida company has now found a solution to allow a greater volume of fruit to be treated in the process. 

Al-Flex Exterminators general manager Alex Napoles told www.freshfruitportal.com importers had historically needed to bring in fruit or vegetables with 18 inches of space left free below the ceiling of containers to comply with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules.

This is in fact still the case for companies wishing to appy methyl bromide treatment in 40-foot traditional containers, but Al-Flex's new solution involves moving pallets into a 53-foot over-the-road refrigerated trailer through a sealed system that keeps temperature constant.

As a result, exporters can ship fruit up to five inches from the container ceiling.

Napoles highlighted the method's benefits for produce items that required mandatory fumigation like yams, Chilean blueberries and grapes, or Peruvian asparagus.

"But it's also very useful for an importer who isn't obliged to fumigate, has brought a full container and then unexpectedly told they have to fumigate," he said.

He said the service was currently on offer in Port Everglades and PortMiami, and Al-Flex was open to the possibility of licensing the technology to fumigators in other U.S. ports.

www.freshfruitportal.com