The Valencian firm supported the congress held in Mersin between November 6 and 11 as its main sponsor

From 6-11 November, the Turkish city of Mersin was proud to host, the 14th International Citrus Congress, a forum where numerous scientific activities, conferences and workshops were undertaken with the aim of highlighting the importance of citrus fruit at a global level and to determine the factors and new policies that will set out the future of the market. Citrosol, as the main sponsor of the Congress, has had the opportunity for researchers, growers and citrus operators around the world to learn about its work and its product catalog so they may "verify through our scientific rigor and spirit of continuous improvement that we are indeed the leaders in post-harvest citrus protection”, stated the CEO of the company, Jorge Bretó, weighing up the firm’s presence at the Congress.

The contributions of Citrosol’s scientific team occupied a good part of the program dedicated to the field of post-harvest. The firm's R&D+i director, Dr. Javier Parra, and Dr. Benito Orihuel, our Postharvest Advisor, presented "The development of Precision Postharvest technologies for decay control" in the opening presentation of the second day. In this presentation, each of the doctors reviewed the various milestones and technological developments that have allowed Citrosol to establish itself as a benchmark in the control of decay in citrus fruit, starting with drencher treatments and the so-called First Treatment, through to the release of the Citrosol Zero Waste System in 2010 which, was subsequently complemented by the development of the Easy Kit®, allowing real-time verification of decay control treatment.

Javier Parra also took part speaking at the “Residue-Free Citrus Fruit” workshop, where he presented the recently launched, Citrosol Greencide, a treatment formulated on plant-based extracts in the process of completing registration, that controls decay without leaving phytosanitary residues.

The presentation of Citrosol's new tools to mitigate chilling injury was delivered by Dr. Rafa Torregosa, Dr. Benito Orihuel and Dr. Celia Murciano. The excellent results roused great interest amongst attendees from countries such as South Africa, Peru or Australia, all of them geographically distant from traditional consumer markets and susceptible to being affected by pathogens such as Cladosporium ramotenellum or the various species of Cladosporium sp — which are the origin of the appearance of a grayish cottony mold on the calyx of the fruit— typically found in transcontinental shipments of citrus fruit where a cold environment is employed to mitigate a variety of damaging incidents.

They also highlighted the work undertaken and experience accumulated by Citrosol in the detection and management of resistance to fungicides in the control of decay caused by the Geotrichum fungus, which manifests itself as a soft decay with a sour odor that disintegrates the skin and pulp of the fruit.

Parallel to the Congress, the participants were able to learn first-hand about the Turkish citrus industry on a visit to the orchards and to one of the packinghouses of the Özler Tarim firm, one of the leading citrus companies in Turkey. During this visit, Citrosol took the opportunity to present its application, control and traceability technologies, as the plant is equipped with Citrosol solutions.

About Citrosol

Although founded in 1994 as Productos Citrosol, S.A., the post-harvest treatment and technology activity began in the 1960s within Electroquímica del Serpis, S.A., both in Potríes, Valencia. As a result of significant organic growth in the last 10-15 years, Citrosol currently has 109 employees, 8 of whom are stationed in diverse countries and at its subsidiary in South Africa, Citrosol South Africa Pty. At its Potríes facilities, the company enjoys a fully equipped R&D+i laboratory plus a pilot plant of just over 1,200 m2. Citrosol’s organic growth has been largely due to its strong innovative character, having received the CEPYME Innovation Award in 2015 and 2020 and the 2020 Business Innovation Award from the Valencia Chamber of Commerce.

Citrosol was born as a specialist in post-harvest treatments and technology for citrus fruits, but for more than 10 years now, as a result of its R&D+i work, it has been developing solutions to extend the commercial life of avocados, peppers, tomatoes, peeled garlic and other fruit and vegetable produce. Citrosol is currently introducing to the market, its solution for Fresh-cut and minimally processed ranges with the Citrocide Fresh-Cut System, with which the water and carbon footprint in the production of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables is considerably reduced. Through all its treatments and technologies, Citrosol contributes enormously to reducing food losses and waste in fresh fruit and vegetables.

For more information: Marina Orihuel (morihuel@citrosol.com)