Ozone solution reduces decay, improves quality and cuts need for chemicals to keep kiwi fresh

LIVERMORE, CA, Nov. 2, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Novazone, a leading provider of innovative ozone-based solutions to improve the freshness and safety of food and water, yesterday announced that Golden Maid Packers, growers of plums, table grapes, persimmons and kiwifruit, has deployed Novazone's ozone-based cold storage solution for kiwifruit to extend shelf life and provide additional protection against Botrytis.

Founded in 1948, Golden Maid Packers is a family farming company located in Strathmore, Calif., that harvests, packages and ships an average of 850,000 packages of plums, table grapes, persimmons and kiwifruit annually. Its new storage and shipping expansion, completed in 2001, features state-of-the-art cooling and air management to more efficiently handle large volumes of fruit. Deployed in the new facility is Novazone's ozone-based storage solution. The solution extends the benefits of the new storage facility by killing and controlling airborne and exposed surface pathogens such as Botrytis, also known as gray mold. The ozone, delivered at precise concentrations into the storage atmosphere as a gas, kills pathogens quickly and reacts naturally with ethylene gases produced by the fruit to control ripening, leading to higher quality and extended shelf life.

"Our retailers and their customers want high quality produce that is exposed to fewer chemicals used on fresh produce," said Bruce Myers, owner of Golden Maid Packers. "With Novazone's experience and focus in the food industry across a variety of commodities, we are confident that we will experience less decay and ultimately provide fresher and safer fruit to the consumer."

"Ozone was approved for use on food in 2001. Since its approval, Novazone has been a leader in delivering effective results with ozone-based storage, disinfection and sanitization applications," said Paul White, president and CEO of Novazone. "Today, Novazone's customers span a variety of commodities and geographies around the world. We're proud to have Golden Maid Packers join our family of customers and take an industry leadership position in providing high quality kiwifruit."

Located in Strathmore, Tulare County, Calif., Golden Maid Packers is a family farming company that harvests, packages and ships an annual average of over 850,000 packages of plums, table grapes, persimmons and kiwifruit. Approximately 75% of this fruit is produced on 1,000 acres of family-owned farmland, mostly near the original home site of the Myers family settled in 1915 when they relocated from Kansas.

Novazone (www.novazone.com) is a leading provider of innovative ozone-based solutions to improve the freshness and safety of food and water. Consumers around the world are demanding fresher and safer consumable food and water products. With year-round, global sourcing, transportation and distribution of these products, comes an increase in the risk of both accidental and intentional contamination from microorganisms, pests and chemicals. Novazone couples applied food science with patented ozone technologies to provide an environmentally friendly means of reducing water and airborne pathogens without the use of harmful chemicals, making food and water fresh and safe naturally. The company incorporates an array of patented technologies into complete, automated systems with unsurpassed reliability and cost-effective operations. Industry leaders such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, Sun Pacific, Orchard View Farms, Paramount Farms, Safeway, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals have implemented Novazone's ozone solutions.

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