Too Good to Waste. Innovation from Fresh Inset Could Help Sweet Cherries Stay Fresh

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- They look perfect on the shelf, glossy, plump, and vibrant. But in just a few days, most cherries are destined for the trash, their stems brown, and their skins wrinkled. A promising study reveals that a Vidre+™ complex placed on a clamshell or any other type of packaging can transform it into a powerful active packaging solution. This could delay the journey to the bin, keeping sweet cherries firm and fresh for a longer period.

Freshness vs. Time: A global fruit challenge

As global demand for fresh cherries is expected to grow to $95 billion by 2030 (Verified Market Research), so does the challenge of keeping them fresh from farm to table. Yet cherries remain a perishable fruit on the shelf, sensitive to heat and dehydration. Their fragility may lead to post-harvest losses, which is a challenge throughout the supply chain from producers to retailers to consumers.

One of the biggest problems with cherries is how quickly they lose their appeal both visually and nutritionally. Vidre+™ technology could be a part of the solution. Trials conducted on freshly harvested cherries placed into packaging with Vidre+™ technology have shown promising results. Those cherries had the least weight loss, kept better quality, maintained stem color, and firmness for longer compared to the control group. Growers and retailers may have a tool to tackle the freshness challenge, says Tim Malefyt, Ph.D., CTO at Fresh Inset.

The science behind freshness technology

Vidre+™ technology uses 1-MCP, a well-known substance that slows down ripening process and protects quality. What makes the solution unique is its controlled, gradual release of 1-MCP, which happens inside the packaging post-harvest. Farmers or packers could simply place the Vidre+™ complex inside the clamshell or another packaging and within 24 hours, the fruits, veggies, and even flowers begin to benefit from the freshness-protecting product.

The study, conducted in summer 2022 by professor Dorota Wichrowska and a team from the University of Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland, explored how Vidre+™ affects two cherry varieties: Kordia and Regina. Over 21 days, the cherries were observed for changes in appearance, firmness, nutrient levels, and chemical composition.

Key conclusions:

• Shelf Life: Untreated cherries began losing quality after just 3 days. With Vidre+™ protection, this degradation was delayed to day 9.
• Weight Loss: Cherries protected with the technology had experienced less weight loss over 21 days.
• Visual Appeal: Stem color was fully maintained for 13 days in Kordia and for 21 days in Regina vs. the untreated ones that lost the bright green color rating after 9 and 13 days, respectively.
• Firmness: Treated fruit retained noticeably better firmness, especially from day 6 onward.

Disclaimer

The study focused on sweet cherry cv Kordia and Regina, assessing their quality over time was commissioned by Fresh Inset. The research was conducted by a team of experienced scientists led by Dorota Wichrowska, PhD from the University of Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland in the summer of 2022.

The results presented in this press release are based on a single study. Please note that these are preliminary findings. Additional studies may provide further insights and perspectives.

• For media inquiries please reach out to Michał Kopera, senior PR consultant, [email protected], +48 608 637 193
• For more information visit: WEBSITE & LinkedIn Page
• More Vidre+™ trials results can be found on the COMPANY BLOG:

About Fresh Inset

Fresh Inset S.A. (joint-stock company) is a food- tech from Toruń, Poland founded in 2017 by scientists from Synthex Technologies and developed by an international team that consists of a group of experienced scientists, agronomists, engineers, packaging sector experts, and IP lawyers around the globe, in such countries as the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Poland. The company has developed and patented a unique Vidre+™ technology for extending the freshness of harvested fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The Company's product has been patented in more than 50 countries. Fresh Inset is a member of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and Greentown Labs.

Vidre+™ is the breakthrough next-generation application of 1-MCP technology, which exponentially expands the benefits of produce preservation by mitigating the effects of ethylene. The research conducted on 5 continents proves that the technology works on various crops and varieties from avocados to grapes, limes, pears, tomatoes, peppers, and many more. Vidre+™ brings a timed and gradual release mechanism that allows produce to be treated by 1-MCP directly in packaging, eliminating the need for a 24-hour application in a sealed storage room or air-tight containers.

SOURCE Fresh Inset S.A.