New Product Developed To Prevent Cherry Cracking
April 20, 2015 
Biofilm, developed at Oregon State University, protects fruit from rain-related losses. (Photo credit: Betsy Hartley)
Fruit cracking is a common problem that plagues cherry growers. However, thanks to researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), a food-grade spray-on biofilm has been developed and tested to protect this delicate crop.
SureSeal, developed by Clive Kaiser, an OSU horticulturist and Extension tree fruit expert and J. Mark Christensen, an OSU pharmacist, is a patented food-grade stretchy biofilm with ingredients such as cellulose, palm oil based wax, and calcium.
Growers spray SureSeal twice a season in a water-based emulsion. Tiny droplets of the product bind on the fruit and leaves, forming an edible, elastic, and water-resistant bandage approximately 13 microns thick. As the fruit grows, the product stretches to protect the fruit.
Lynn Long, OSU horticulturist and Extension expert in tree fruit, conducted field trials on SureSeal in Wasco and Hood River, OR. During field testing, rainfall in late June or early July could cause between 10% to 27% cracking on unprotected cherries. However, SureSeal prevented approximately 50% cracking.
OSU has licensed the SureSeal technology to Cultiva LLC, who manufactures the SureSeal-based product and markets them under different trade names including Parka, Cultiva’s product for cherries. Cultiva released a formulation for blueberries and developing a biofilm for apples.
Click here to read more about SureSeal technology.
Source: Oregon State University news release
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