Take control and reduce waste by naturally extending the shelf life of your asparagus

Use of It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control keeps asparagus in saleable condition for longer

With perishable vegetables such as asparagus, accessing the most lucrative markets can be difficult. It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control manages the exposure of asparagus to the gas most associated with ageing.

This allows you to deliver a high-quality product even with longer transit times.

Our trials proved that It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control kept the number of unsaleable bundles under 40% for an extra 3 days.

  • Reduce wastage in transit to maximise the yield from your crop
  • Add flexibility to your transport channels with more time to get to market
  • Maximise returns by accessing the most valuable markets
  • Enhance your reputation as a supplier of high-quality produce
asparagus sorting
With many of the world’s largest producers of asparagus being in South America but some of the most lucrative markets being in Europe, asparagus has the unfortunate accolade of having the highest carbon footprint in fresh produce, as it is flown between the two. This also means extremely high, and rapidly increasing, transport costs for growers.

For this reason, producers in South America and other regions have been keen to find ways to extend the shelf life of their crops and to use cheaper and more carbon-efficient methods of transport, such as sea freight.

It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control provides the perfect solution, as it naturally slows the maturation process to minimise flowering and lignification while retaining flavour and texture. 

It can even be used with certified organic produce.


Get your free ethylene evaluation report

Take control of your waste and improve your profit margin. Find out how with a  no-obligation ethylene evaluation report.

Start now and get your free custom report.
Get started now

Control ethylene for optimal shelf life



Ethylene is a growth hormone which all plants need. It plays an essential role in ripening, protection against pathogens, and the development of aromas and flavours in fruit and vegetables.

By controlling ethylene, you can slow the rate the vegetable matures in a deliberate way, that still allows it to ripen as it would naturally - just over a longer time frame.

It’s Fresh! provides patented technology scientifically proven to deliver extended ripening and reduce waste, while retaining the natural great taste.

It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control:

  • Is a clean technology – suitable for use in organic production
  • Can be applied through the whole supply chain
  • Is safe and easy to use. It requires no special handling, removal, or disposal
  • Doesn’t coat the produce or change it in any way

How It’s Fresh! can support your business

Improve shelf life and quality
  • Better post-harvest quality produce
  • Maintain visual appeal
  • Reduce production loss and unnecessary waste
  • Maintain a reputation for quality
Grow your market
  • Gain access to new markets by extending the life of produce, allowing for longer transits
  • Ship further inland and reduce reliance on the more saturated markets at the main port areas
Deliver a great-tasting product to your customer
  • A superior eating experience with optimal taste and texture
  • Drive customer satisfaction and your reputation for quality by consistently delivering superior quality products
Peace of mind
  • Control produce ripening in a way that doesn’t stop or risk maxing out
  • Know that with It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control, your crop will cope with any delays and arrive at its destination in the best possible condition
Driven by science
  • Get the best results without over-spending via our sophisticated diagnostics
  • Determine the exact level of control required for your specific crop and transit routes
Benefit your bottom line
  • Obtain the flexibility to hold produce quality for longer
  • Give wholesale markets more time to sell vegetables at a better price

Let us help you reduce your waste

When you choose It’s Fresh! technology to safeguard your crop, you benefit from our years of research, experience, and sophisticated diagnostics, which means we can precisely ‘prescribe’ the technology required to suit your specific produce, transit routes and customer requirements.

We work with you to get your crop to market in the best possible condition, generating maximum value, using our five-step process:

CONSULT

Your specific varieties, conditions and requirements are understood

DIAGNOSE

Using sophisticated diagnostic tools, your crop is tested to determine the characteristics of the produce

PRESCRIBE

Your transit technology is specified to result in the shipment arriving in optimal condition. This is determined based on the diagnostics for your specific crop and transit route

ANALYSE & MONITOR

We review your actual crop results and performance

REFINE

We further refine the technology specification based on actual outcomes to continually improve your results over time

Get your free ethylene evaluation report

Take control of your waste and improve your profit margin. Find out how with a  no-obligation ethylene evaluation report.

Start now and get your free custom report.
Get started now

What people say about It's Fresh! Ethylene Control

It’s Fresh! gave us extra days, allowing us to hold the fruit, waiting for a better price at the market
Romy Meyer
Commercial Manager at Exportaciones Meyer, LTDA

Extending the life span of asparagus and opening up alternative transport options

It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control keeps the number of unsaleable bundles under 40% for an extra 3 days

Peru is the leading global exporter of asparagus in the world, exporting 138,000mt in 2021 with 40,000mt of this volume travelling by air to Europe.

Producers were keen to switch from air freight to fast (14 day) sea freight vessels travelling from northern Peru to Europe on a weekly basis. Trials were conducted with Danper, Peru’s leading exporter of asparagus to assess the impact of controlling ethylene in the MAP bags used during transit.

The bags trialled using It’s Fresh! Ethylene Control outperformed the control group significantly, with the volume of unsaleable bundles kept under 40% for an additional three days.


Rejection rates reduced when asking 'would I buy it?'

Significant improvement in perceived quality using It's Fresh! Ethylene Control

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

You'll begin by talking with one of our technical experts who will ask some questions, and collect information about your crops, customers and goals.

They run smart diagnostics to help you decide on the best solution for your business. You'll understand what you can do to achieve the highest possible return on investment.

Why do I need an ethylene controller?

To understand the value of an ethylene controller, it is necessary to understand how ethylene affects fruit and vegetable ripening. As fruits and vegetables mature, they go through a series of changes in color, texture, and flavour.

These changes are part of the process of ripening, which is essential for the development of eating quality.

Ethylene is a plant hormone that plays a central role in crop ripening. As fruits and vegetables mature, they produce increasing amounts of ethylene. The ethylene then acts on the produce to bring about the changes associated with ripening.

One of the most important benefits of using an ethylene controller is the slowing of ethylene during transit and storage. By reducing ethylene, the ripening process is slowed down and fruit and vegetables can be kept in storage for a longer period without becoming overripe. This is important because it allows the product to be shipped further distances and arrive in better condition.

Is it safe to use?

Yes, it is. 

Unlike some other products on the market, which use 1-MCP or potassium permanganate, which are not approved for use on organic fruit and vegetables and can be hazardous to use.

It's Fresh! Ethylene Control is food safe and suitable for use in organic production.

It does not coat or change the product in any way. 

Can you prove it works?

Absolutely.

We work with scientists at universities in multiple countries - in particular the world-leading experts at the University of Greenwich, Natural Resources Institute, and Cranfield University, Plant Science Laboratory.

We operate a diagnostics lab at which our technical experts run continual testing via gas analysis, resistance guage, and sophisticated visual analysis.

These are further validated by real-world test results. Our technical team are happy to discuss your potential results and run some diagnostics for you.

Get In Touch

Contact us about extending the shelf life of your asparagus crop via our new generation ethylene controller.

An It's Fresh! expert will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your requirements and how we can help you optimise your yield.
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