He has been working with PARC
food microbiology researcher Pasqual Delaquis on the packaging system. The new plant will be able to create
any sort of produce box and is already prepared to manufacture nine different skews. Orders so far have come in for broccoli packaging for Loblaws, Thrifty’s and Save-On Foods and they are targeting tomatoes and peppers next. There are also orders for avocado cartons. “We have a winner here,” Lidster concludes. He can be reached at
perry.lidster@
gmail.com
to launch in the Okanagan and Fraser Valleys this year. Lidster’s company and the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre received Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) funding of $261,000 last summer to explore this new anti- microbial packing technology that preserves fresh fruit and vegetables for up to a month. Not only does it halt the ripening of produce, it also protects against outbreaks of salmonella and the growth of bacteria, yeast, mould and fungal organisms to protect both the soundness of the produce and the health of consumers. With food safety a huge issue in today’s global food marketplace, such packaging prevents a lot of potential problems. “This is huge for food processors,” comments Lidster. Perishable and fragile crops such as cherries will benefit particularly from the new packaging, he says. “It allows you to take your product anywhere in the world. It’s like magic—it's the way of the future.” SmartPac packaging incorporates a breathable barrier membrane into the corrugated cardboard packaging materials, establishing an optimum atmosphere for the produce inside the hermetically-sealed box, which is topped with a unique plastic lid. All materials are recyclable. The result is produce that provides
the consumer with ‘freshness on demand’ without dry or shrivelled fruit, or fruit that’s been damaged or with growth of any fungal organisms. Lidster is president of the company
and has a background in science and business development.
20 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2012
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