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
Rooted in Hope: The Unshakable Optimism of Farmers
Rooted in Hope: The Unshakable Optimism of Farmers Farmers are eternal optimists. They have to be. Their entire existence is based on the hope that the seeds they sow in the spring will bear fruit come fall. Last month, farmer sentiment rose another 11 points, based on the Purdue Ag Economy Barometer. It’s now about as high as it’s been in a decade (save for 2020-21, when commodity prices hit record highs).
This Week in Ag #54
Farmers love to kick tires, share stories, and due to their curious nature, are always looking to pick up tips for their trade. It’s no wonder the agricultural industry is rife with trade shows. Perhaps the most influential show is Commodity Classic, where the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Wheat Growers Association
The South Is Sweating and So Is The Corn
Just step outside. It's brutal. You’ll instantly know it’s “sweating season” across the South and much of the Midwest. Sure, temperatures are hot, consistently now in the upper 90s across the Delta. But it’s the humidity that instantly gets your attention and triggers sweat glands overload. The dew point - aka "the misery index" - indicates the temperature where dew forms: the higher the dew point, the more moisture is in the air. The National Weather Service defines dew points above 75 degrees as “oppressive.” That’s where we’ve consistently been across the Delta; most days reaching the upper 70s.
