PEAKfreshUSA reaffirmed its continuing commitment to environmental stewardship with a new product available by request that enhances landfill biodegradation. “Consumer demand increases every year for sustainability,” said Greg Ganzerla, president and CEO of Lake Forest, CA-based PEAKfreshUSA. The new product will add another innovative offering to PEAKfresh’s catalog of packaging.

“Because of limited space in landfills, we’ve invested in a technology that enhances biodegradation of our film in biologically active landfills,” said Ganzerla.

This product would increase the life of a landfill by reducing the life of a film that would otherwise sit for years. Using third-party laboratory testing, PEAKfreshUSA reports positive results. “We have accomplished degradation of 18.1 percent in 300 days while regular plastic is still degrading at a negative number,” said Ganzerla.

Offering modified atmosphere packaging, PEAKfreshUSA specializes in products for fruit and vegetables as well as cut flowers and plants. “With a natural mineral embedded in our products, we are able to modify the composition of the air surrounding the packaged item in order to extend the initial fresh state of the product,” said Ganzerla.

PEAKfresh has long been used by growers, shippers and retail chains to preserve the freshness of produce during transit and storage. Notably, NASA has been using PEAKfresh bags since 2018 to extend the life of produce sent to, and consumed by, the astronauts at the International Space Station.

PEAKfresh products are made of a low-density polyethylene film impregnated with a natural occurring mineral found in Australia.

This mineral extracts ethylene gas, the chemical agent that causes produce to ripen and ultimately spoil. “By reducing ethylene gas, PEAKfresh extends the freshness of the product up to 2 to 3 times normal shelf life,” said Ganzerla.

An anti-fog treatment is also included in PEAKfresh products to further enhance results by creating high humidity levels similar to when a fruit, veggie or flower is on the vine.

“We have always been diligent in offering packaging that is easy to use while creating modification of its atmosphere through an unsealed pallet cover,” said Ganzerla. Not only does PEAKfresh extend shelf life, its products help lower labor and energy costs. “While costs along the supply chain only continue to rise, our product is a win-win for packers and shippers,” said Ganzerla.

Ganzerla said he loves when customers tell him about the great results they’re having with their product line, and “when we learn that a client is going 100 percent PEAKfresh because of its ease of use and cost savings benefit, I know that we are a valuable part of the supply chain.”

While primarily geared for commercial use, PEAKfresh also offers a popular at-home option. “The past two years during COVID-19 revealed the consumer is focused on extending the life of their food supply,” said Ganzerla, citing increased sales numbers during that time.

PEAKfreshUSA products are recyclable, reusable, and can now be made with enhanced landfill biodegradation capabilities. All PEAKfreshUSA products are also BPA-free and OMRI listed for Organic Use.

Kyle Eberth is new to the produce industry, but has grown up around it, in proclaimed "Apple Capitol of the World," Wenatchee, WA. For the past 14-years he has worked in the non-profit sector with an emphasis on brand storytelling, community engagement, and donor relationships. Kyle graduated from Whitworth University (Spokane, WA) in 2007. He and wife Kelsey were married shortly thereafter, when they moved to Wenatchee to launch their careers.  Kyle is "Dad" to Brooklyn and Hudson, together the Eberths enjoy skiing, biking, their family and friends, and playing together in the beautiful place they get to live.

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