StixFresh has come up with a way to extend the freshness of fruit naturally with a sticker. The company claims the stickers can extend the shelf life of fruits for up to two weeks longer.
An all-natural compound contained on the sticker creates a protective layer around the fruit.
Scientists at StixFresh have used a natural secretion of plants that protects them from harmful environmental conditions and applied this formulation to the surface of the stickers. The formula of specially-sourced beeswax and other natural ingredients coats the stickers. It has been independently tested and scientifically shown to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.
“The repurposed compounds work together to create a protective layer around the fruit, thus naturally slowing down spoilage and over-ripening,” said StixFresh co-founder and CEO Moody Soliman. “By slowing down these processes, we can extend the freshness of many fruits by up to an incredible two weeks. Further independent studies have also shown that fruits treated with the StixFresh sticker show increased sweetness, higher retention of moisture and sustained cellular structure resulting in increased firmness.”
Every year, up to 50 percent of all food produced worldwide goes to waste. Fruits and vegetables account for the largest portion of wasted food in terms of mass.
StixFresh said the product is minimally invasive and chemical-free, meeting Generally Recognized as Safe and FDA requirements.
StixFresh was recently selected as a finalist for three categories at the 2019 World Food Innovation Awards and took home the award for Best Packaging Technology and Best Sustainability Initiative.
Originally developed by Malaysian inventor Zhafri Zainudin, StixFresh stickers currently work with apples, pears, avocados, dragon fruits, star fruits, kiwis, mangos, oranges and other citrus fruits. The team at StixFresh is working on the application of the sticker for additional fruits and vegetables, such as berries, bananas and tomatoes.
StixFresh, with its U.S. headquarters in Kirkland, Washington, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to spread awareness about their stickers among consumers and the investment community.
