PMAC weekly update 16th to 23rd December

1. Government agencies: ICPR and Country freedom Changes

2. New Zealand News: EU-New Zealand FTA Public - Consultation on Geographical Indications; NZ export revenue set to rise; E-commerce and provenance go hand in brand; New Zealand's food and beverage exporters urge WTO to fix appeals process; "Minimum wage needs a rethink"; Selling New Zealand’s fruit and vegetables to the world; Chinese importer seeks delay in Zespri case; High hopes for NZ cherry campaign; T&G Global to acquire domestic fresh produce division of Freshmax NZ; Hail limits summer fruit supply; Berries inspire new local brew; Prestigious award opens doors to Asian market for Kāpiti Coast limoncello maker; Small footprint but many jobs; Ecolibrium Biologicals to launch Lateral bio-insecticide; New Zealand strawberry prices always skyrocket at Christmas time; Fresh cucurbit species imports suspended after discovery of fruit disease; Interwaste plant at Auckland Airport says sorry for stench from building

3. International news: GAIN reports; Visualizing 30 years of Chinese economic growth; EU General Court clarifies scope of protection for plant variety denominations; Taiwanese elections will influence this years' Chinese New Year fruit sales; Demand for imported fruit grows in Indonesia; Asia Fruit Logistica Moves to Singapore for 2020; “Food recalls have become incredibly complex and costly exercises”; A comprehensive guide to shipping container farms; Major UK supermarkets to ditch apple labels; US approves three types Of Genetically Engineered potatoes; New device capable of disinfecting fruit and veg and charging your cell phone

1. Agency news

1.1. ICPR and Country freedom changesMPI Country Freedom List has been updated to state Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani is not known to occur in New Zealand

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Wishing you all a very

Merry Christmas and a safe and happy

The ICPR for Taiwan has been updated with the addition of 5 viruses and 6 viroids to the Quarantine pest list. ICPR Plants Taiwan

2. New Zealand News

2.1. EU-New Zealand FTA Public - Consultation on Geographical IndicationsMFAT are seeking input on the proposed legal framework for protection of geographical indications in New Zealand as part of the EU-NZ FTA negotiations. Through the FTA, the EU is asking New Zealand to recognise and protect an extensive list of EU geographical indications (GIs) covering food stuffs, wines, and spirits. This means certain product names would only be able to be used by certain European producers.

The EU wants us to protect GIs in much the same way as they are protected in the EU. This would require significant changes to our existing laws. We want to understand how these proposed changes could impact New Zealanders. Submissions can be made by emailing eu-fta@mfat.govt.nz.The closing date for submissions is Friday 27 March 2020.

Commentary 2.2. NZ export revenue set to riseMPI’s situation and outlook for primary industries' (SOPI) report for December 2019 has forecast a rise of 5.9 per cent in horticulture export revenue for the year ending June 2020.

Kiwifruit exports are expected to rise by 8.6 per cent to NZ$2.5bn, while apple and pear export revenue is anticipated to lift 7.2 per cent to NZ$900m Full article available here

2.3. E-commerce and provenance go hand in brandThe power of brand storytelling in tying different innovations together is unquestionable. It is important that we stop and think about the psychology and expectations of an e-commerce consumer and where else this will offer opportunity and challenges for our current processes and messages. So, let’s paint a picture.

In 2018, more than 54 per cent of all food products purchased by Chinese consumers were purchased online2. In 2017, 30 per cent of all food products purchased online by Chinese consumers were from Australia or New Zealand3. Chinese consumers are some

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of the world’s most active mobile device users, spending an average of almost 4.5 hours per day on mobile phones or tablets4.

But what does this mean for branding? It means we need marketing content strategies that reflect a daily and mobile-centric information consumption trend. It means that the provenance story we tell needs to be data-led. It means consumers want to ask whatever they want, whenever they want, about our supply chain. And, realistically, it means that the answers to most of their questions need to be delivered instantly, dynamically and automatically. Consider this scenario:

A young mother in Shanghai is browsing the shopping app for her preferred fresh produce store whilst waiting to pick her daughter up from school. The app notifies her of a new Australian mandarin brand for her to trial. As a part of the promotion, she is offered a string of content to watch, read or bookmark for later. So, what does this content look like?

• Our Story – time and date stamped footage of the orchard in Australia, it includes interviews with orchardist John, picker Gemma and warehouse manager Chris. • Our Journey – an animation of the fruit’s journey to store, where each step is date stamped showing details of the journey from field to rail, port to port and road to store. • Our Community – links to the brand’s own WeChat community to ask others what they think, it also connects to the brand’s website and other social channels (inc WhatsApp).

Simply put, we can do all these things right now. However, what is really missing is the automation and connectivity between them. In my mind, the bridging of the gap sits primarily in two camps – how the provenance content becomes data-led and accessible to overseas e-commerce apps, and how it is then pushed to consumers and used to drive conversions, growth and brand loyalty. From previous experience working with many of the largest and most innovative e-commerce businesses in China, they are working hard to hold up their end of the bargain in delivering content to their e-tail consumers via apps and online communities. But are Australian / New Zealand producers and exporters holding up theirs? 

What we need is a technology solution that not only captures supply chain data (I read about the myriad of trials underway in this space) but one that makes its integration into branding and marketing content packets automated. We then need to build applications with api-style connectivity in mind so e-commerce customers around the world can connect seamlessly. 

This convergence of information consumption via smartphone and the growth of fresh e-tail means we must rethink the way we engage consumers with our brand. It is not a matter of producing all the content they want right now. It is about producing and sharing all the content they could want in the future. Full article available here

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2.4. New Zealand's food and beverage exporters urge WTO to fix appeals process

Major New Zealand food and beverage exporters are urging World Trade Organisation members to accelerate efforts to "fix" its trade disputes mechanism which is currently suspended.

Organisations representing New Zealand meat, dairy, horticulture, wine, and seafood exporters released a statement last week saying they were deeply concerned that attempts to reach a consensus on the Appellate Body WTO had failed. The Appellate Body adjudicates on contested rulings over disputes between member countries and was now unable to function. This left a key gap in the enforceability mechanism of the rules-based trading system.

Exporters said it was critical that WTO members continued to support, but also to reform and improve, the multilateral, rules-based trade system to reflect the current and future needs of trade.The statement went on to say a stable enforceability mechanism for the rules-based trading system provided certainty and confidence for New Zealand exporters when pursuing opportunities in global markets.

New Zealand food and beverage exporters urged all WTO members to redouble their efforts and to engage constructively in the process led by Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand to agree a pathway forward that avoided the continued suspension of the appeal process of the dispute settlement mechanism. The WTO must also be given credit for helping to drive the prosperity and growth of the global economy over the past 25 years. Without it, global trade and supply chains would be unworkable. Full article available here

2.5. "Minimum wage needs a rethink"Horticulture New Zealand believes minimum wage laws need to be reviewed so they reflect the reality of living and doing business in New Zealand. The Government confirmed that New Zealand's minimum wage will rise to $18.90 an hour from 1 April 2020.

In the horticulture industry, several employers pay a living wage and have profit share schemes, which encourage staff loyalty and help ensure these businesses have enough staff on hand, particularly at peak times.’ Mr Chapman says the Minimum Wage Act is a blunt instrument. ‘Yes, it protects some workers but no, it does not support the kind of employer/employee relationship that is win/win for both parties that is employment reality today.

‘The law needs to be reviewed to ensure it continues to protect vulnerable workers while at the same time, supporting the kind of relationship that enables businesses and their employees to thrive and grow. ‘Full

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2.6. Selling New Zealand’s fruit and vegetables to the worldSelling New Zealand’s fruit and vegetables to the world is behind a new campaign showcasing New Zealand horticulture. New Zealand Story (NZ Story) and Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) have got together to produce a video called the New Zealand Horticulture Story to support New Zealand’s position as a leader in healthy food.

‘The video highlights how New Zealand growers care for the environment and see the land as a resource to be respected under the Māori principle of Kaitiakitanga. ‘Also highlighted is the fact that consumers can have confidence in fruit and vegetables grown in New Zealand, thanks to the horticulture industry’s passion for food safety and biosecurity. ‘What’s more, New Zealand growers are some of the most innovative in the world, as demonstrated in how they grow, harvest, package and transport their produce, domestically and to the rest of the world.

HortNZ says the recently launched Primary Sector Council’s vision to align the food and fibre sector will also enable continued growth. This vision is based on the concept of taiao - the ecosystem of land, water, air and life - which has been chosen to underpin the holistic nature of the food and fibre sector’s transformation. ‘Taiao embodies how horticulture in New Zealand operates. It speaks to the interconnected relationships of the whole environment and its people. If we can nurture the environment, land and people, our industry will continue to prosper’. Full article available here

2.7. Chinese importer seeks delay in Zespri caseThe Chinese importer that is trying to sue Zespri for $25 million, wants a trial held off until 2021 because its lead witness remains in a Chinese jail. Shanghai Neuhof first filed a claim against Zespri in May 2014, alleging breach of contract after they were both convicted of under-declaring customs duties in China between 2008 and 2010. For his part, Shanghai Neuhof's general manager Xiongjie Liu was sentenced to 13 years jail time. The importer wants $25m in compensation, claiming Zespri was supposed to reimburse it for customs duties, and that it built the kiwifruit marketer a cool store.

Shanghai Neuhof says much of the alleged contract was created orally with Liu representing it, so his evidence is central to the case. Zespri's counterclaim alleges deceit and fraud and calculates damages totalling $57m.Somewhat ironically Shanghai Neuhof had until this year been pushing for an early fixture, but Zespri had raised many discovery issues causing delays. A March decision in the case suggested Zespri's legal costs up until then had exceeded $1m.

According to nzherald.co.nz¸ Zespri's lawyer, Marc Corlett QC, told the court there was reason to be sceptical that Liu would even be released in 2021 and called the application an "indulgence." Full article available here

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2.8. High hopes for NZ cherry campaignA Central Otago-based co-operative has tipped production volumes to double over the 2019/20 season. On the eve of a new season, one of New Zealand’s leading cherry producers is forecasting a record crop yield. Central Otago-based Pure Pac expects it will handle approximately 600 tonnes of cherries over the 2019/20 campaign, more than double the 270 tonnes it sent to market between December 2018 and February 2019. Last season’s performance was in line with a 40 per cent industry drop due to variable pre-season weather conditions.

60 per cent of Pure Pac’s fruit will be exported to existing and emerging Asian markets this season. The remainder will be distributed to New Zealand supermarkets and via Pure Pac's online store.Pure Pac will market its fruit under the Pure Gold and Gold Reserve brands in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, India, Vietnam and Cambodia. Full article available here

2.9. T&G Global to acquire domestic fresh produce division of Freshmax NZT&G Global Limited has entered into an agreement to acquire the domestic fresh produce division of Freshmax NZ, to boost its New Zealand business and benefit growers, customers and the wider industry. The purchase deal, valued at $30 million, shows a strong commitment to its domestic business, and is in line with the company’s strategy for growth.

The purchase deal includes three market sites (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) and distribution services throughout New Zealand. The deal has been signed and is subject to a number of conditions, including review by the Commerce Commission. Full article available here

2.10. Hail limits summer fruit supply Some stone fruit will be in short supply over summer after a severe hailstorm damaged Hawke’s Bay orchards in October. The hail storm hit when fruit was at early stages meaning it was particularly vulnerable. Apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums will be in short supply and may have small blemishes on their skin. Retail process have not been affected as of yet, and it is reported that the full cost of the damage to growers will not be known till the end of the season. The Rural Support Trust has remained available to growers if help is required Full article available here

2.11. Berries inspire new local brew Waikato blueberry grower and Blueberries New Zealand chairman Dan Peach has combined his expertise with Good George Brewer Brian Watson to create a blueberry

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beer coined the Smashed Blueberry Beer. Mr Watson has stated that it took three years to get to the point of commercialisation for the beer. The brewery is hoping to capitalise on consumer demand for craft beer. Every 500 litres of the beer contains 100 kilograms of blueberries Full article available here

2.12. Prestigious award opens doors to Asian market for Kāpiti Coast limoncello maker

Kāpiti Coast producer, Koakoa Limoncello is hoping that their recent gold medal winner at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit competition will help to open doors in the Asian market for 2020. The company's Bond Store Kawakawa Gin also won a bronze medal. The company has doubled in size over the last year and is aiming to match that again next year. The company’s products recently gained NZ Fernmark Accreditation which is important as kiwi origin products are sought after by Asian markets. Their limoncello is made using lemons sourced from Gisborne, and both products are produced on the Kāpiti Coast Full article available here

2.13. Small footprint but many jobs The Malley family started their hydroponic growing of soft berries in Northland three years ago. After purchasing a kiwifruit and avocado orchard in 2011, they switched the varieties of kiwifruit planted to SunGold and Hayward Green and eventually felled the older avocado trees, replacing them with tunnel houses containing various hydroponic berries. ‘’The orchard also contains a purpose-built berry packhouse for local and international sales and amenities for a large workforce.’’ Mr Malley has reported that hydroponic growing increases yields whilst requiring lower inputs of both water and fertiliser. The family employ 57 full-staff year-round as well as up to 110 casuals over the height of summer. This has allowed them to employ locals and offer secure work to many people. Full article available here

Bits and pieces2.14. Ecolibrium Biologicals to launch Lateral bio-insecticideAfter many years of challenging development, Ecolibrium Biologicals with its partner the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University are releasing the product trade named Lateral, containing the novel entomopathogenic bacteria Brevibacillus laterosporus strain 1951 in 2020 (pending EPA and ACVM consent). Lateral is the first product to be released globally that is utilising this novel bacterial mechanism at a time when the market desperately needs biological replacements to synthetic agchem.

In 2010, 2 bacteria were identified as a part of a project partially funded by the New Zealand government and were shown to have sufficient activity to potentially be used in a novel group of Bioprotectants. The strains identified as Brevibacillus laterosporus strain 1951 and 1821 have demonstrated control of Nematodes, Caterpillars, House Flies and

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Mosquitos.

Lateral has a dual mode of action derived from an S- layer protein mechanism and has so far controlled lepidopteran pests such as Diamond Back Moth caterpillar, Fall armyworm, Corn earworm, Soybean looper and European corn borer over 7 trials in 6 countries. Full article available here

2.15. New Zealand strawberry prices always skyrocket at Christmas timeWaikato strawberry grower Peter Malloy has taken to social media to explain why strawberry prices skyrocket just before Christmas. The berries are a staple for Christmas celebrations, but New Zealanders always have to pay top-dollar for them during pre-Christmas days.

Owner of Ye Olde Berry Farm Peter Malloy posted a video on Facebook to explain, saying he didn't want customers to think they were being ripped off. Malloy said it was a simple case of supply and demand, and growers had to make the most of the Christmas season. "We only have a certain area of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries at the Christmas period. There's a lot of people who want to buy the fruit at that time and we make most of our money in the New Zealand market, supplying Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch," said Malloy. Full article available here

Biosecurity 2.16. Fresh cucurbit species imports suspended after discovery of fruit

diseaseBiosecurity New Zealand has suspended fresh melon imports from Queensland after routine testing detected cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) on a consignment of watermelons from Queensland, Australia. several other products have also been suspended for import.

Biosecurity NZ plants and pathways director Peter Thomson said CGMMV did not pose a risk to human health, but if introduced to New Zealand, it could have a serious impact on local production of cucurbit crops. The virus can deform young leaves and damage fruit. Fruit from the cucurbit family included watermelon, cucumber, honeydew melon, rock melon, scallopini, zucchini, and pumpkin, Thomson said. "There is no suggestion the disease is in New Zealand.

Thomson added that the suspension currently affected several melon consignments that have been placed on hold at the border. Biosecurity officials were working with importers to determine whether or not their product would be able to enter the New Zealand market, he said. The length of the suspension would depend on how quickly Australian authorities could investigate the situation and put measures in place to assure New Zealand that their product was free from the disease, he said. Full article available here

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2.17. Interwaste plant at Auckland Airport says sorry for stench from building Biosecurity plant Interwaste, which is situated at Auckland Airport has apologised to its neighbours for odour emitted from its building. The plant processes 80 percent of New Zealand’s biosecurity waste in its steam sterilisation facility including the waste from airlines and cruise ships. The business has the potential to generate odours, however these have strict conditions under resource consents with the council. They had an issue with odours last week and have apologised to those surrounding them. The company is working with the airport to design and build a purpose-built facility, which is expected to begin next year. Full article available here

3. International news

Comment 3.1. GAIN reportsGain reports are from the “Global Agricultural Information Network” and are produced by the USDA. They are designed to provide timely information on the economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. The information in them is written for USA exporters but the majority is equally relevant to New Zealand. With regard to import regulations for a particular market New Zealand exporters should first check the countries ICPR on MPI’s web site. These are collated specifically for New Zealand product. However, the Gain reports often provide additional information that is useful e.g. on grading and labelling, economic profiles. To see the full report, go to the Gain web site (https://gain.fas.usda.gov/) and search for the country and any reports released in the last month. This week see:

a) China Draft Measures on Supervision and Management of Food Labelling On November 20, 2019, the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) released the draft “Measures on Supervision and Management of Food Labelling” for domestic comment. This report contains an unofficial translation of the draft Measures.

b) EU Early Alert - Update December 2019 The information in this document provides interested stakeholders with advance notice of active ingredients under review and highlights which substances may have restricted or non-renewal of approval. This is a quarterly update dated December 2019, including a link to the consolidated version as well.

c) Eurasian Economic Union Ag Times 2019 This report contains summaries of relevant decisions and documents from the Armenia-Belarus-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Russia Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) meetings, published between September 20, 2018, and December 6, 2019, that impact EAEU food and agriculture policy.

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d) UAE Natural and Organic Food Market in the United Arab Emirates Based on retailer reports and market observations, Post anticipates a steady rise in the demand for natural, organic, healthy and "free-from" products in the Gulf region.

e) Exporter Guide for the Caribbean Basin , Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy , Netherland, Philippines and Poland

f) FAIRS Annual Country Report for Austria, Croatia, Germany, Greece and Italy

g) FAIRS Export Certificate Report for Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic; Germany and Tunisia

h) Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional Reports for India and Poland

Regulatory3.2. Visualizing 30 years of Chinese economic growthChina’s economy has grown significantly faster than every measure on our visual. It’s grown 14.12 times in size since 1989. The Euro area and other high-income countries, including the US, have grown much slower than China. The US economy is only 2.09 times bigger than it was in 1989. No matter the economic climate, US debt levels continue to grow, almost quadrupling in inflation-adjusted dollars over the last 30 years.

China’s economy started to grow in 1989 and hasn’t let up, double in size roughly every 8 to 10 years. China’s growth rate surpassed every other measure we found, from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, to rich and poor countries, and even US debt. It’s more than 14 times as big as it was in 1989.

We adjusted all our figures to reflect 2019 dollars, allowing us to create a true apples-to-apples comparison across time. This lets us measure growth rates in real terms over the last 30 years.

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Click here for a larger image. Full article available here

3.3. EU General Court clarifies scope of protection for plant variety denominations

The question of whether plant variety denominations can be protected under Article 7(1)(m) of the European Trade Mark Regulation was addressed by the EU General Court for the first time in the dispute over ‘Kordes’ Rose Monique’. This article provides details of the judgement. Read more at Novagraaf Full article available here

Business/ Industry3.4. Taiwanese elections will influence this years' Chinese New Year fruit

salesChinese New Year is the most important holiday for all Chinese people. This year it will be held a bit earlier than usual, it will start on 25th of January. The tradition is that all family members will go back to their hometown to reunite with their family for the celebration of starting a new year.

During Chinese New Year, Chinese people enjoy sharing and sending premium fruits to relatives and friends as gifts for good fortune and good health. Penny Chang from Carrefour Taiwan mentioned: “Normally the demand for premium quality fruits is high during this time. About 15 days in advance people will start buying fruits and this will peak during the holidays. Consumers always consider imported fruits as high quality fruits. According to historical sales data, the top 5 imported fruits contribute to 25 percent of the total sales of imported fruits. The top 5 list is: Chilean cherries, Japanese Sun Fuji apples, New Zealand cherries, blueberries and US Fuji apples.

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The challenge for all Taiwan's retailers in this coming Chinese New Year will be the presidential elections this year, which are close to Chinese New Year (11th January 2020) . The customers purchasing behaviour will be affected as conditions will be different than normal, they now need to divide their attention between these two important activities. Full article available here

3.5. Demand for imported fruit grows in IndonesiaStatistics Indonesia (BPS) has revealed fruit is one of only three import categories to increase in 2019 (January to November), a rise driven by household spending. According to a report from The Jakarta Post, the value of Indonesia’s fruit imports totalled US$1.24bn from January to November in 2019, up 9.61 per cent (US$1.13bn) from in the same period in 2018.

“Household spending on several goods has contributed to rising imports of apples and oranges from China,” Suhariyanto told The Jakarta Post. It has China positioned as the top exporter of fruit to Indonesia, followed by Japan and Thailand.

David Sumual, chief economist of Bank Central Asia, said the recent surge could also be attributed due to a stronger rupiah against the US dollar. Full article available here

3.6. Asia Fruit Logistica Moves to Singapore for 2020ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, Asia’s leading fresh fruit and vegetable trade show, is moving to Singapore for its 2020 edition from its traditional location in Hong Kong. ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2020 will take place on Sept. 16–18 at Singapore EXPO.

Following the Singapore edition in 2020, GPE will review market conditions and evaluate the response to ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, before making their decision on the location for future editions. Full article available here

Food safety3.7. “Food recalls have become incredibly complex and costly exercises”Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), says that between January in 2009 and December last year, they coordinated 675 recalls. Most recalls have been due to undeclared allergens and microbial contamination. During the last 10 years, the most common food type to be recalled due to undeclared allergens is processed food. Other food types involved in undeclared allergen recalls include cereals, seafood, meat and poultry, nuts and sauces and other condiments.

The $131 billion food and beverage sectors are rife with complexities across their vast supply chains, which frequently cross borders and continents and involve numerous variables including personnel and environmental conditions. These two factors alone

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raise the risk of food firms falling prey to a product recall. The primary focus of food recalls is to quarantine and remove affected products from shelves, so people don’t get sick or die. Expenses are also incurred by retailers or manufacturers from refunds; business interruption, loss of contracts, third-party liability and reputational damage when a product is recalled. Click here to read the full article.

3.8. A comprehensive guide to shipping container farmsIn a guide to shipping container farming and agriculture, Discover Containers explains what container farms are and what problems they solve, but they also share over 20 companies involved in container farming, and even discuss the option of building your own.  Read the full guide here.

3.9. Major UK supermarkets to ditch apple labelsAll of Britain's major supermarkets, including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Morrissons and Asda have signed up to waste charity Wrap's "Plastic Pledge", and are among 85 companies promising to get rid of a billion single-use plastic items by the end of 2020. Retailers will no longer be using pointless plastic items including stickers on fruit and vegetables.

Plastic stickers on fruit and vegetables were there to let cashiers know what the product is and how much it costs. They also let consumers know whether the product is organic. Some Chains have provided additional training to staff and introduced visual cue cards at the till. Others have moved to compostable stickers. Members of the pact have also signed up to ensure that 100 per cent of plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable. Full article available here

Innovation3.10. US approves three types Of Genetically Engineered potatoesIn October 2016, Federal officials named three types of potatoes -genetically engineered to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine- are safe for the environment and safe to eat. The approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration late last week gives Idaho-based J.R. Simplot Company permission to plant the potatoes this spring and sell them in the fall.

The company said the potatoes contain only potato genes, and that the resistance to late blight, the disease that caused the Irish potato famine, comes from an Argentine variety

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of potato that naturally produced a defence. All three varieties “have the same taste and texture and nutritional qualities” as conventional potatoes, said Simplot spokesman Doug Cole. Simplot says the genetically engineered potatoes reduce the use of fungicide by half. Click here to read the full article.

3.11. New device capable of disinfecting fruit and veg and charging your cell phone

YouPin, a remarkable device capable of disinfecting fruits and vegetables while also allowing wireless charging, is now available for sale in China. The device, manufactured by the company Ningbo Youban Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., is currently being backed by crowdfunding and more than 3,900 Chinese users have already expressed their desire to acquire one.

This fruit and vegetable "purifier" uses a high energy ion purification technology. By means of an ionic generator, water is broken down into hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions, which interact with the bacteria and pesticides present in the products, turning them into harmless substances. Also, hydroxide ions combine with chlorine in water to form hypochlorous acid, which kills bacteria through an oxidation reaction. According to the information provided by the manufacturer, it is more than 90% effective in pesticide degradation and more than 99.99% effective as a bactericidal.

This fruit and vegetable purifier has a built-in 4,400 mAh battery and also supports wireless charging, making it capable of charging compatible smartphones. The purifier can work more than 35 times on a single charge. The machine is also IPX7 waterproof. Its price in China is 199 yuan (€ 25 / $ 27). The company will ship the first units on January 14, 2020. From that date, it will be available for sale through China's main resellers. Full article available here

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