Fresh-Cut Precooler Improves Shelf Life and Food Safety

(Philadelphia, PA USA)

Fresh-cuts benefit from powerful new Precooler/Recooler.

The shelf life of fresh-cut is more important than for fresh for a variety of reasons. Fresh-cut’s
price per pound is greater, and therefore waste and markdowns are more costly. Its shelf-life
is usually less to start with as well, and it runs the risk of foodborne illnesses if left too warm
for too long.

The “Fresh-Cut Precooler” is the newest innovation from industry-leader Global Cooling Inc.,
based in Philadelphia. According to inventor and company president James D. Still, ”the
Fresh-Cut Precooler has 40 horsepower of fan power and delivers 50,000 cfm (cubic feet per
minute).“

“This assures that all fresh-cut produce packages can receive at least four or five cfm per
pound, and be cooled just as fast as humanly possible,” said Still.

According to the FDA, holding fresh-cut produce at appropriate cold storage temperatures
reduces the potential for microbial growth. In the USDA guide for defects in fresh-cut
produce, the majority of those listed can be related to improper temperature.

“Especially now that consumers are so organic-focused,” Still continued, “recooling of freshcut
with forced-air is naturally an organic preservative, and modified atmosphere films work
best when the produce is optimally cooled first.”

The rate of respiration of fresh produce is inversely related to product shelf life, which means
that a higher respiration rate decreases shelf life. Fresh fruits and vegetables that have been
cut or otherwise physically altered will have increased respiration, and a shorter shelf life.

Thus far, Jet Heavy-Duty precoolers are in use in Hawaii and Australia, where produce is even
more costly than most mainland areas and countries.

“The extra airflow from the Fresh-Cut precooler means retaining the freshest possible freshcut
product for the longest possible time,” Still said.

Global’s new precoolers are placed in nearby cold storage rooms inside regional processing
centers. It’s also here that fresh-cut bags or clamshells are aggregated into cartons or RPCs,
and then palletized for shipment to distribution centers. Those pallets are then placed in front
of the precoolers to create a forced-air precooling tunnel that is much more effective than
simply using room cooling.

“With the heavier-duty Fresh-Cut precooler,” said Still, “final cooling or recooling is achieved
almost twice as fast as with our Jet-Ready model, all other things being equal. “

Global Cooling Inc. manufactures the Jet-Ready, Jet-Heavy Duty, and Jet-Ripe portable
precoolers, as well as the Rapid-Cool 2- and 3-tier high pallet racked precoolers.

“Our Jet Precoolers are made in America, right here in Philadelphia at the Philly Navy
Yard business park,” said Jim J. Still, Global’s Vice President. “All our components are the
best that money can buy, and our portables are amazingly powerful. Time after time, we
outperform bunker wall systems and farm‐built box fans.”

For more information about Global’s Fresh‐Cut and Jet‐Ready Precoolers, see
www.PreCoolers.net. Or eMail to: [email protected] . Or call 1‐844‐858‐4621,
local 1‐610‐248‐9800. Jim Still, Founder/President/CVO, Global Cooling Inc.