After Harvest – Natural Controlled Atmosphere Module for Fresh Produce Storage and Logistics
This is a flexible, eco-friendly controlled atmosphere (CA) technology designed to significantly extend the post-harvest shelf life, crispness, and quality of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and mushrooms during storage and transport. Unlike traditional industrial controlled atmosphere systems that require expensive gas injection machinery, heavy electrical infrastructure, or chemical preservatives, the technology creates a self-regulating micro-climate directly inside stackable, modular pallet-boxes.
The system relies on a patented “Tiempo Cap” lid fitted with selective semi-permeable membranes. Placed inside a standard refrigerated room or reefer transport unit, the stored produce’s natural respiration drives the gas exchange, automatically stabilizing oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels between 1% and 5% while maintaining nearly 100% relative humidity. This dual optimization drastically slows cellular oxidation and eliminates moisture evaporation, reducing weight loss from standard 10–20% levels down to under 1.5%. The result is a highly adaptable, zero-chemical preservation system that allows growers, exporters, and logistics operators to shift sales windows, reduce post-harvest waste, and maintain field-fresh quality across long-distance distribution networks.