January 11, 2010

Philippine sets up freezers for fresh produce

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is setting up almost a hundred multi-functional freezers nationwide to improve the post-harvest facilities of farmers and fisherfolks.

Attached agency National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) will buy 98 multi-functional ice-making machines for PHP4.6 million each that will use a new technology to freeze farm produce.

The brine immersion freezing (BIF) technology using the liquid quick freeze (LQF) method will allow the storage of fish, meat and leafy vegetables in standard styrofoam boxes for two to three days without using ice.

Despite the lack of ice, the produce will still retain their fresh quality and taste, Nabcor spokesperson Kathyrin D. Pioquinto said.

"If these commodities are placed inside standard refrigerators or freezers after being frozen in BIF freezers, they can last from six months up to one year and still preserve the quality," Pioquinto added.

The BIF took off from the American and Japanese BIF technology of quick freezing. This technology was then improved on by a group led by Filipino inventor Hernando B. Decena.

Decena said the BIF allows instant freezing, eliminating crystallisation, which in turn helps preserve the freshness, flavour and texture of the frozen product. He adds that the conventional handling method where ice is used often leads to crystallisation that can then alter the quality and freshness of the frozen product.

Furthermore, it takes only from three to 30 minutes to freeze a product using BIF, compared with three to four hours for the conventional air blast system.

A lack of post-harvest facilities like cold storage equipment is blamed for the loss in crop produce and the low quality of transported farm goods.

Despite its obvious benefits, the contract for the equipment has been criticised by non-government groups for alleged overpricing and bidding irregularities.