Jan 5, 2007 8:29 AM, from staff and wire reports

Calavo Growers Inc, packer and marketer of fresh and processed avocados and other perishable food products, has opened two more Value Added Depots (VAD) equipped with its ProRipeVIP technology.

The new facilities in San Antonio TX and Swedesboro NJ join an initial VAD opened in 2006 in Santa Paula CA. They enable the company to ship fresh avocados pre-ripened to customer specifications anywhere in the continental United States.

Previous ripening methods involved storing cartons of avocados in humidified rooms, similar to the process for bananas. In contrast, ProRipeVIP technology employs Acoustic Firmness Sensors that rely on sound waves and vibration to gauge firmness and internal pressure of fruit. The process results in precisely measured ripeness.