It's Fresh

16/01/2026

The History of Ethylene

Ethylene’s story began in 1669 when J. J. Becher first isolated it as “olefiant gas.” By the 1800s, London’s streets were lit by coal-gas lamps—a mix that included ethylene—marking one of its earliest practical uses. Later, scientists discovered ethylene’s role as a plant hormone, driving ripening and shaping modern agriculture.

Managing ethylene has now become critical for global food supply chains. Here at in 2008, our Gen One technology was launched, capturing ethylene to extend shelf life and reduce waste—a breakthrough for retailers and growers worldwide. Innovation didn’t stop there.

In 2023, we introduced Generation Two: RYPEN, delivering superior ethylene removal and sustainability benefits. RYPEN Technology sets new standards for freshness, helping the industry tackle food waste and improve supply chain resilience.

Ethylene's journey is remarkable, going from what was once just a molecule that assisted in illuminating Victorian streets to discovering its properties in ripening fresh produce. Add to this the careful moderation of this molecule using RYPEN, it's clear that there is more history to create for ethylene. At It's Fresh, we're proud to lead the next chapter.

14/01/2026

Measuring the performance of RYPEN technologies at It's Fresh

At It's Fresh, we know ethylene plays a critical role in produce ripening—and moderating it is essential for freshness. That’s why our testing process is designed to replicate real-world conditions using RYPEN Technology in a controlled environment that mirrors the fresh produce supply chain.

Firstly, we seal our RYPEN technologies into gas-tight vessels. We then apply a precise amount of ethylene into the sealed vessel, and measure how the concentration depreciates over time. Bespoke respiration studies in the presence of RYPEN technologies assess how effectively our solutions slow ripening and maintain quality.

To measure ethylene concentrations we utilise Gas Chromatography (GC), ensuring the data we collect is specific, quantifiable, and delivered with rapid turnaround. GC analysis gives us confidence in the accuracy of our results, enabling us to develop and optimise RYPEN materials that reduce waste and extend shelf life.

By combining real-world simulation with advanced analytics, we deliver science-backed freshness that benefits growers, retailers, and consumers alike.

12/01/2026

Detecting Ethylene: Why It’s Hard—and Why It Matters

is a plant hormone that triggers fruit ripening—even at trace levels. Monitoring it during storage and transport is vital for preserving quality and reducing waste. But detecting ethylene outside the lab is anything but easy.

Conditions vary widely: fruit type, maturity, and handling differ, while temperature, humidity, and airflow constantly change. Ethylene itself is difficult to measure—its small size, non-polar nature, and stability make detection at very low concentrations challenging. Moisture interference adds another layer, as water can distort sensor accuracy.

A common misconception is that handheld “ethylene detectors” give precise readings. In reality, many measure total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), not ethylene specifically. This lack of selectivity can lead to misleading data and poor decisions, especially when ethylene levels are low compared to other volatiles.

While there's lots of interesting work going into addressing the challenges of hand-held equipment and developing sensors that can truly read ethylene outside laboratory settings, there's still no replacement for machines like that used at It's Fresh - gas chromatography. It's the analytical method of choice for its highly specific and quantitative detection of ethylene gas. That matters when we're developing specific packaging solutions for the fresh produce industry to manage valuable crops being shipped globally.

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

Detecting Ethylene in the Lab: Precision Matters

Ethylene plays a critical role in fresh produce ripening, making its detection essential for understanding a wide range of things related to the growing, picking, storing, shipping and retailing of fresh produce.

In laboratory settings, there are several ways to measure ethylene levels, including electrochemical sensors, photoacoustic spectroscopy, and gas chromatography.

At It's Fresh, we specialise in understanding ethylene (in fresh produce), and utilise Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) for accurate ethylene analysis. This technique separates compounds in a sample and identifies ethylene based on its retention time—the specific time it takes to travel through the chromatographic column. Once detected, the FID system measures the ionized carbon fragments, providing precise quantification of ethylene concentration.

It's highly specialised work that relies on very finely calibrated machinery.

Why does this matter? Accurate ethylene detection using GC-FID has enabled us to develop RYPEN packaging solutions that extend the shelf life of fresh produce naturally, ensuring it reaches consumers in peak condition and maintains a more sustainable supply chain.

18/12/2025

12/12/2025

🌍 The 2025/26 table grape season is ongoing in key markets.

The total export market is valued at $12 billion annually, with strong growth from key regions such as Peru, Chile & South Africa. Despite this momentum, growers and exporters face rising challenges:

🚢 Logistics: Port congestion and freight cost increases
🌍 Geopolitics: Shifting trade policies affecting market access
🌡️ Climate: Heatwaves, erratic rainfall, and pest pressure are shortening shelf life and increasing defect risks

These external pressures can lead to uncontrolled ethylene levels, compromising fruit condition. The RYPEN Case Liner, launched in the 2024/25 Southern Hemisphere season, uniquely moderates ethylene — slowing ripening while allowing optimal fruit development.

During our first full season:
✅ 32 commercial shipments from Chile, Peru, and South Africa
✅ Estimated 5,500 tonnes of grapes protected

Performance Highlights:
87% of shipments saw improved rachis scores
78% fewer defects
30% reduction in weight loss

These improvements enabled higher grade-out quality and better pricing for growers and exporters — proving that smart packaging innovation can directly support resilience and returns.

🔬 As global pressures mount, RYPEN is supporting the supply-chain.

Pack smart. Protect more. Waste less.

12/12/2025

Tariffs and the Southern Hemisphere: Driving Change and Opportunity

Tariffs on fresh produce are starting to reshape global trade dynamics, particularly for counter-seasonal fruits like grapes, berries, stone fruits, avocados, and kiwifruit exported from the Southern Hemisphere. These measures introduce significant cost pressures—with reciprocal tariffs of up to 10–15% now applied to key exporters such as Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.

While these tariffs challenge established trade flows, they can also catalyse innovation and diversification across the fresh produce sector. Investments in digital platforms, advanced cold-chain infrastructure, brand building and new GTM strategies can all strengthen value propositions and maintain global competitiveness.

At It’s Fresh, we believe that resilience is key to navigating these shifts.

Through our RYPEN Technology products, we empower the entire fresh produce supply chain to better withstand the evolving pressures of global trade. One of the most pressing of these is the growing emergence of higher tariffs. By enhancing shelf-life and reducing waste, RYPEN helps producers, exporters, and retailers adapt to market changes and unforeseen trade frictions with confidence.

These strategic shifts are fostering a more agile, technology-driven supply chain—better equipped to manage future disruptions while continuing to deliver high-quality produce worldwide more efficiently.

We're proud to be playing a part in that.

17/06/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Lakeland has launched the innovative Lakeland Stayfresh Sheets, powered by It’s Fresh’s very own, cutting-edge RYPEN® Technology.

RYPEN® is trusted by growers and exporters around the world to moderate ethylene levels—the natural molecule that accelerates ripening in fresh produce. By capturing that ethylene, our technology helps gently slow down the ripening process, keeping fruits and vegetables fresher for longer, and without the need for chemical reactions, the RYPEN® Technology is highly unique and very easy to use.

Now available to consumers to use in their own homes, with Lakeland Stayfresh Sheets, you can enjoy longer-lasting produce, reducing food waste, and getting more from every grocery trip.

https://lnkd.in/gZ2-NVgm

Fresher produce. Less waste. More value.

07/05/2025

Gel breakdown is a well-recognized internal issue with plums (prunus species).

Characterized by a translucent, jelly-like appearance of the mesocarp (the fleshy, edible part), gel breakdown typically develops during shelf life after a prolonged cold transit and/or storage period.

It leads to deterioration in texture - and often flavour – negatively impacting the eating experience. This poses challenges across the entire supply chain, from the supermarket all the way back to the grower.

This is where the RYPEN Case liner comes in. 🚢

In an extensive study on Laetitia plums in South Africa—over a 54-day duration—the RYPEN Case liner reduced the incidence of gel breakdown by a factor of 2.7x compared to the control!

Contact us for full details of the study, or to discuss integrating the RYPEN Case liner into your stone fruit activities this coming season in Spain, South Africa or South America. 🌱