QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - As food safety remains top of mind for the industry, One Harvest has unveiled a key advancement, announcing that it is partnered with SmartWash Solutions® to install its comprehensive food safety program throughout its Australian operations.

"Exceptional customer service is the essence of SmartWash, and we have had many chances to prove this during the past year and a half. At one point, we sent our products to Australia via air freight, and instead of travelling to the site, we deployed a 24/7 remote training and operations team," said Steven Swarts, Director of Business Development, SmartWash Solutions. "Between video conferencing and our access to One Harvest’s real-time data feed, we have been able to maintain constant communications and operational integrity."

SmartWash Solutions’ food safety program includes utilization of process control systems, application of the SmartWash® Organic food wash enhancer, and implementation of the highest degree of calibration available in the industry, according to a press release.

The solutions company also offers an integrated package of organic and conventional food wash enhancers, process control equipment, data management, calibration with known solutions, and a customer service partnership to help mitigate cross contamination and improve wash line efficiency.

"One Harvest is now our largest customer outside of the United States, and we continue to expand across the globe as growers and processors see the advantages of SmartWash in food safety efficacy, process control improvement, and enhanced product quality," Swarts added.

Anina Immelman, Head of Technical at One Harvest Australia, offered insight on the implementation of SmartWash Solutions’ comprehensive program.

"One Harvest has been at the forefront of produce industry innovation for over 90 years," Anina Immelman said. "The SmartWash Solutions process control system is enhancing our ability to ensure security and food safety as we grow, process, and supply our products all year round. By investing in this technology, we are supporting our customers in supplying high quality, delicious, and safe Australian produce to their consumers."

As noted in the release, One Harvest conducted extensive research at its produce processing facility in Perth, Australia, during which SmartWash Solutions proved to be a valuable alternative to peracetic acid (PAA) in producing fresh-cut products.

"SmartWash provided substantial improvements in the quality of our finished product, including the potential to significantly extend shelf life,” Immelman continued. “Additionally, our validation protocol showed the microbial mitigation results we expected. Overall, we found many strong reasons to convert from PAA to SmartWash coupled with chlorine, which set up a win-win scenario for us, our customers, and the consumers.”

One Harvest plans to expand the use of this innovative program to its other facilities to optimize operations across its geographical footprint.

"We expect to complete installation of SmartWash systems at our remaining facilities by the end of August. After our conclusive test results and the potential to increase our operational efficiencies, it was an easy decision to replace all of our PAA lines with SmartWash," said Stuart Mayhew, General Manager of Engineering and Technology, One Harvest.

Keep reading ANUK as we continue to report on the latest programs and innovations to hit the fresh produce sector.

SmartWash Solutions® One Harvest