Sep 6 2010 --- Hefestus, Israel has launched breakthrough packaging solutions for extending the shelf life of fresh cherries without impact on appearance or taste. Unlike fruits such as apples and citrus, fresh cherries have a short season and a notoriously short shelf-life. Hefestus conducted multiple controlled trials to successfully develop a method to extend cherries’ shelf life more than 20 days a remarkable result for cherries in particular and fresh fruits in general.

Hefestus conducted trials in the field, specifically in packaging houses specializing in nutritional superfruits such as cherries, in order to extend shelf life in different packaging systems produced by Hefestus. “We received impressive results for all of our packaging machines,” says Oded Shtemer, company President & CEO. “Hefestus' packaging solution for cherries is suitable for any size production or marketing operation, small or large. Athena is a very compact packaging machine designed for fresh product shelf-life enhancement and can be implemented even in small spaces, while Hercules is the most advanced packaging system. Its high-speed packaging line can pack trays at a pace of up to thirty per minute.”

A growing body of science reveals cherries as one of the most nutritious and functional superfruits. Emerging evidence links cherries to important health benefits such as helping to ease the pain of arthritis and gout, and reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Cherries also contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag, prevent memory loss and delay the aging process. Tart cherries enjoy among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries), vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate. But many of these nutrients are highly susceptible to breakdown by exposure to light, air and time.

SLB “Shelf Life Booster,” Hefestus’ proprietary packaging technology, not only allows processors to double fresh cherries’ shelf life, but also maintains the firm, crisp texture, the mouthfeel and the freshness of the fruit.

It can significantly improve the entire supply chain due to fewer returns or discards, lower costs and most importantly the highest levels of consumer satisfaction. Moreover, this technology further saves costs through minimalized labor and maintenance of hygienic stations, increased marketing speed and availability, and the opening of new marketing opportunities.

According to Shtemer, “SLB technology allows our customers to reduce the costs of packaging materials and improves our environmental profile by using environmentally friendly packaging.”

Hefestus’ advanced packaging system allows manufacturers and marketers to transport fresh seafood, meat and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables products to distant destinations without impact on product odour and appearance, and can revolutionize the entire supply chain from manufacturer to consumer via fewer returns or discards, lower cost, reduced impact on the environment and more satisfied consumers.