San Diego, California-based SureBeam Corporation has entered into an agreement with New Zealand-based Turners and Growers, the largest importer of fruits and vegetables in New Zealand and Australia.
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Upon establishment, this new joint venture will use SureBeam’s environmentally friendly technology to irradiate and render harmless pests of national and international bio-security concern from various Australian horticulture crops.
Don Turner, CEO of Turners and Growers, commented: “This is an excellent opportunity to increase the range of tropical fruits available to New Zealand consumers.
“Turners and Growers handles tropical fruits from a number of sources, and we are keen to increase the range and supply available to New Zealand consumers. SureBeam(R) technology is a good fit for our needs, since it’s a proven system that will safely address the significant bio-security constraints that Australian tropical fruits currently face.
“By working together, we’ll be able to increase export opportunities for Australian growers, as well as increase the range of exotic tropical fruits that New Zealand consumers can enjoy.”
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By GlobalDataThe joint venture plans to build an electron beam and x-ray facility dedicated to providing quarantine treatments against pests of bio-security concern for export fruit and vegetable crops. The initial facility will be established in Northern Australia – the center of Australia’s expanding tropical fruit industries. The Northern Australian facility will meet Turners and Growers needs for tropical fruit from Australia, as well as provide plant quarantine disinfestations treatments for other exporters and importers. Groundbreaking for this new facility will commence once necessary approvals and government protocols are in place.
Larry A. Oberkfell, SureBeam’s president and CEO, commented: “SureBeam(R) is one of the most effective, environmentally-friendly technologies ever conceived.
“This joint venture addresses Australia’s unique horticultural market access needs, expands our patented SureBeam(R) technology into one of the most progressive agricultural markets in the world, and gives Australian horticulture the best business and bio-security solution available.”
The world’s first disinfestation facility using SureBeam(R) technology made its debut nearly two years ago in Hawaii to provide tree-ripened papaya and other exotic Hawaiian fruits to US markets. SureBeam uses ordinary electricity as its energy source to instantly eliminate the threat of fruit fly and other harmful environmental pests that threaten the world’s bio-security.
Before the advent of SureBeam(R) technology, various other quarantine treatments-including the use of toxic chemicals, heat, or nuclear irradiation-were the only technologies available. None of these are fully acceptable since they may adversely impact the appearance and nutritional value of fruit or the environment.
Northern Australia is expected to export approximately 34 million pounds of fruit having a value of nearly A$85m annually.
