New food dehydration kit delivers “revolutionary” benefits

EnWave Corporation has sold its continuous nutra​REVfood dehydration system to Cal-San Enterprises; one of British Columbia’s largest blueberry producers.

Compared with the industry standard, freeze drying technology, the new equipment cuts processing time to minutes rather than hours or days, cuts energy use by one third and capital costs by one sixth, according to Jennifer Thompson, the company’s vice president of Corporate Development.

The new technology also reduces the potential for large batch losses with continuous processing, improves the retention of flavour and colour and facilitates value-added attributes such as puffing, Thompson told FoodProductionDaily.com.

Energy transfer​

REV technology combines microwave energy transfer with pressure control to dehydrate and alter structures and drive chemical reactions. This creates unique product characteristics for both food products and medical applications, claims the company.

Following pre-commercial test results with fruits, vegetables and herbs, nutra​REV dried products are said to contain similar shelf-life to freeze dried products.

EnWave has sold the equipment to Cal-San under a license which requires a royalty of up to 10 per cent of the company’s gross revenues from the sale of dried food products processed using the nutra​REV technology.

Dave Sandhu, president of Cal-San said: “N​utra​​REV gives the market a major advancement in food dehydration technology, and I believe that it will revolutionize the value-added food processing sector​.”

Dr Tim Durance, EnWave chairman and Co-CEO said: “I believe that we have developed a competitive new method for food dehydration which offers consumers rich textures, concentrated flavours and excellent nutritional and environmental benefits​.”

EnWave predicts sales of this equipment will range in price between $800,000 and $1m.

Dehydrated tomatoes​

The company now intends to focus on the North American market for dehydrated tomatoes, potatoes, onions, herbs, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and sour cherries. The combined size of these markets is estimated at US $1.2bn.

Longer term, the company plans to search for a global manufacturing and distribution partner to provide service and support for its machines. It is also continuing to develop its powder​REV technology designed to dry bulk liquids containing sensitive biological organisms such as probiotics and enzymes.