Strawberries All Year Round: Revolution in Cultivation and Processing Through Freeze-Drying.
In the world of berry cultivation, strawberries are considered the royal ingredient of summer, offering not only an exquisite taste but also significant health benefits. In strawberry farming, growers face numerous challenges that require not only hard work but also strategic planning and continuous learning. Choosing a cultivation method that best suits the specific needs of a plantation is a key element that can influence the success of the entire venture. Additionally, farmers often face the dilemma of choosing the right strawberry variety that will best meet market expectations. As the fruits grow and the harvest season arrives, growers often encounter new difficulties.
Weather and Market Challenges in Strawberry Cultivation: From Storing Strawberries to the Recipe for Price Instability.
Selling strawberries can be a challenge for growers, as the fruits are highly dependent on weather conditions. In periods of high temperatures and high humidity, strawberries spoil faster, which can significantly affect their quality and shelf life. A crucial factor here is the rapid cooling (precooling) of the fruits immediately after harvest to reduce their temperature to 0-2°C, and then storing them in refrigerators while maintaining a low temperature and high humidity (about 90-95%).
Furthermore, when the peak season arrives and markets are flooded with large quantities of strawberries, their prices can plummet, further complicating the situation for producers trying to sell their crops before they spoil. These realities require them to be flexible and capable of quickly adapting to changing market conditions, and also lead to the search for alternatives.
Processing Strawberries and Berry Fruits – Alternatives.
An attractive alternative to traditional processing is freeze-drying. It allows for the long-term storage of fruits without losing taste, aroma, and nutritional value. It also provides a variety of solutions: from freeze-drying whole fruits (even with stems!), through freeze-drying pieces of fruit or strawberry puree, which surprises with its new form. Thanks to this, growers can offer high-quality products all year round, reducing dependence on seasonal price fluctuations and demand.
Benefits of Freeze-Drying for Strawberry Growers.
The use of freeze-drying equipment opens new perspectives for farmers, allowing for diversification of income sources. Polish freeze-dryers FrostX have various loading capabilities, enabling growers to select the perfect equipment for their needs. The freeze-drying process itself is simple to implement, and the machines are easy to operate. Strawberries are placed in the freeze-dryer after harvest, where they are frozen and the water is removed, preserving the fruit’s structure and nutritional values. As a result, a product ready for sale is obtained, with an average price of about 6.95€ per 100 grams! Freeze-dried strawberries find applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic industries, and in the production of dietary supplements. This process can translate into higher margins and financial stability for farms. Additionally, freeze-dried fruits are light and easy to transport, which lowers logistical costs and opens doors to export markets.
Freeze-Drying as a Response to Market Challenges in Strawberry Cultivation.
Freeze-drying strawberries is a response to the numerous challenges faced by growers. It enables them not only to improve the profitability of production but also to expand their offer with high-quality products available all year round. Investing in freeze-dryers is a step towards sustainable development and opening up new markets, which in the long-term perspective can provide growers with stability and income growth.
