During the initial 14-day pilot period, OptiCept achieved the project goals. The treatment resulted in improved texture in pineapple products, making them more appealing to new markets with high-quality standards. At the same time, an evaluation of the drying process showed significantly increased efficiency through reduced drying times. As a result, Dole wants to conduct further tests to fully map the commercial benefits of PEF (Pulsed Electric Field) technology in the pineapple drying process. The project is therefore entering a commercial phase.

"The results are entirely in line with our expectations, and this strengthens our position as a partner to Dole. We are also seeing growing interest from other industry players. We have created strong momentum in Southeast Asia, and we will leverage this fully in the coming months. We are in advanced discussions with one of Southeast Asia's leading juice producers regarding another agreement, which we hope to announce shortly," says Thomas Lundqvist, CEO of OptiCept Technologies.

Thailand is a globally significant producer of pineapples, with an annual production of approximately 1.2 million tons, placing the country among the top five producers worldwide. Asia is also the world's largest region in terms of both production and consumption of pineapples, making the Thai market a strategic priority for OptiCept.

Dole Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., founded in 1851, is headquartered in Singapore and serves as the global operational headquarters for the Dole Group. Dole is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit, with revenues of approximately USD 2.5 billion. Dole's operations span 30 countries with 40,000 employees and include around 162 distribution and manufacturing facilities.