Eden Prairie, MN (October 25, 2012) — C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., one of the world’s largest produce sourcing and logistics companies, will display its Eco-Crate™ sweet corn container and CantaBella™ melon at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit from October 26-28 in booth #3428.
Eco-Crate is a proprietary, patent-pending, fully recyclable sweet corn container that is made from recyclable plastic and weighs less than current container solutions. The Eco-Crate performs well in extensive post-harvest treatment of fresh sweet corn. Due to its overall design and material performance, up to 30% more crates can be loaded per truckload compared to conventional crates.
The development of the Eco-Crate began in April 2011 as a response to a number of issues and opportunities in the sweet corn category, ranging from food safety to handling of wooden and wax corn crates throughout the supply chain.
“Several surveys identified wood crates as the single most difficult and most injury-producing container at DC and store levels, both domestically and in Europe,” said Daniel Whittles, director of grower programs and business development for Rosemont Farms, a C.H. Robinson Company. “Those handling the Eco-Crate at the various points of contact from packing to merchandising will be thrilled at the reduced hazard, thanks to the elimination of metal wire and splintered wood.”
Exclusive seed development for Timco Worldwide, a C.H. Robinson Company, allows CantaBella™ to be a new entry into the melon category. Development of the melon began in 2008 with the intent of bringing flavor and a good eating experience back to the consumer. This cross between a traditional cantaloupe and the French melon, Charentais, allows for a sweeter, more consistent taste.
CantaBella has been trial grown in several regions ranging from high humidity to very dry, allowing CantaBella to be produced throughout the C.H. Robinson grower network. The exterior appearance will vary in color from light green to brilliant yellow and the skin will range from smooth to semi-smooth. The skin will also have the small presence of sugar lines which typically manifest on melons which have higher sugar content.
CantaBella, available October through May, has a strong harvest indicator allowing C.H. Robinson growers to know when the melon is ready to be picked. This results in a more consistent melon and favorable eating experience for the consumer.
“CantaBella will be unlike any other melon in the produce department,” said Tim Colin, general manager of Timco Worldwide, a C.H. Robinson Company. “The sweet orange flesh and distinct aroma of the melon allows us to provide a favorable eating experience, more consistently, compared to other melons.”
About C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc:
C.H. Robinson got its start in the produce industry over 100 years ago, providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the settlers of the Dakotas and Minnesota. Today, C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest produce sourcing and logistics companies in the world with annual gross revenues of approximately $10.3 billion in 2011. C.H. Robinson offers the highest quality products while integrating value-added logistics, distribution, and information reporting services. C.H. Robinson provides many well-known North American consumer brands including Glory Foods®, Mott's®, Welch's®, and Tropicana® and offers a full line of conventional and organic produce through a large network of regional and local growers. The company serves over 37,000 customers through a network of more than 230 offices and over 8,700 employees worldwide.
Through the company and its Foundation, C.H. Robinson and its employees contribute millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Community Health Charities, American Red Cross, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, and Global Impact. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has been publicly traded on the NASDAQ since 1997. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit http://www.chrobinson.com.
