This is a technique using an OMRI-listed organic product PROUD 3® as an additive for fruit and vegetable washes, which was pioneered by HUMA GRO®’s distributor in Guatemala.
The melons are cleaned initially with a mix of water and chlorine to remove any dirt from the field, then they pass through the PROUD 3® disinfectant to prevent the post-harvest diseases.
To disinfect Honeydew and Cantaloupe melons, the dosage is to add 5 milliliters of PROUD 3® for each liter of water used. Submerge the melons for a minimum of 15 seconds in the bath or spray the mixture on the melons for the same amount of time.
The PROUD 3® works to disinfect the melons and controls the incidence of bacteria and fungi.
In Guatemala some growers were losing from 25% to 70% of their production to mold and mildew diseases in transit to their markets. With the use of PROUD 3®, their transportation losses have been reduced to only 1% to 10%.
PROUD 3® can also be used to disinfect the refrigerator containers used to transport the pallets with the melon boxes. For this, use fumigation pumps or sprayers and mix a dosage of 10 milliliters of PROUD 3® for each 1 liter of water sprayed.
“We have eliminated almost all the diseases that normally develop in the post-harvest period and transport, especially the mildews and molds.”
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