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.”
For more field studies and research reports, please sign up here, check your email for login credentials, and login here.
Related Posts
The Tractor That Couldn’t Wait Until Supper
When Dad showed up late for supper, something was clearly different. What rolled up the driveway that day wasn't just a new tractor—it was an International Harvester 986. Fifty years later, the memories remain as vivid as the red paint, reminding us that some machines become part of a family's story.
The Cost of Growing America
From drought and rising fuel costs to fertilizer shortages and shrinking margins, farmers across the country are facing mounting financial pressure. While commodity prices offer some hope, many growers still struggle to break even as confidence in the ag economy continues to decline.
This Week In Ag #98
Oilseeds are now a lightning rod. America’s top ag export, accounting for over $40 billion, is at the center of a heated debate on the state of America’s health. The appointment of RFK Jr. to head Health and Human Services will do nothing to ground the conversation. He’s been outspoken in his view of how seed oils
