It is really amazing what this technology can do. Not only is it a more natural way to preserve food, it maintains a level of freshness that is going to soon make products available that simply weren’t possible using other methods.
Boulder, CO (PRWEB) August 30, 2013
HOPE Fresh, the High Pressure Processing (HPP) business unit of HOPE Foods, announced it has successfully launched two customers in their new state-of-the-art toll processing facility in Louisville. HOPE Foods initially purchased the building in January 2013 and announced its plan to start the HPP toll processing business, which at the time, did not yet have a name. With the launch of operations and multiple successful customer implementations, the business unit has branded itself - HOPE FRESH.
Morgan McArthur, HOPE’s head of HPP Business Development notes, “This is a fantastic milestone. We had planned on a burn-in period of 4 months and within about 3 months we have checked off all our goals for our initial launch phase. I am very happy to say that HOPE Fresh's HPP service is now fully operational.”
The 58,000 sq. ft. facility currently houses two HPP machines and was built to accommodate up to 6,000,000 lb.’s of capacity per month. HOPE Fresh has the ability to add up to six machines in its current facility.
HPP is a technology that uses pressure to disrupt bacterial growth in food products. It is used as an alternative to heat or preservatives to decrease spoilage, increase shelf life and preserve freshness. It also is becoming an increasingly important food safety process.
In March, HOPE Fresh became the first HPP provider in the state of Colorado with its first HPP system installed in mid-May. Less than two months later, the company signed an order for a second, larger press. This marks the quickest repeat order in the history of Avure, HOPE’s supplier of high pressure machinery.
HOPE Foods president, Robbie Rech stated that the building and operations had been designed with rapid growth in mind; although it is happening more quickly than expected. “Because there was so much interest, we knew right away that we needed more capacity.”
Rech believes that HOPE Fresh offers a crucial service to the booming local natural foods industry. “We expect HOPE Fresh to grow and really help the local natural food industry here in Colorado. It is really amazing what this technology can do. Not only is it a more natural way to preserve food, it maintains a level of freshness that is going to soon make products available that simply weren’t possible using other methods.”
About HPP
High Pressure Processing (HPP) is a commercially established, non-thermal lethality treatment that uses ultra-high water pressure, up to 87,000 psi, to disable pathogens and bacteria such as Listeria, E.coli, and Salmonella in packaged refrigerated products as diverse as RTE meats, raw ground beef and poultry; fresh fruits, juices, and smoothies; soups, wet salads, and sauces; and seafood and shellfish. HPP delivers benefits to all levels of the market, boosting food safety, extending shelf-life, and improving margins, while providing consumers with fresh, wholesome, natural food.
About HOPE Fresh
The first and only certified toll processor in the Rocky Mountain Region, HOPE Fresh offers High Pressure Processing (HPP) services to food producers looking to extend shelf life or increase food safety using pressure as an alternative to heat and preservatives. HOPE Fresh is a subsidiary of HOPE Foods, a premium natural food company located in Boulder, CO. For more information, visit http://www.hopefresh.com.