Sweden’s largest grower of pumpkins had problems with bacteria in wash water leading to mold formation on the vegetables. Anolytech’s environmentally friendly system for disinfecting water became a way to deal with the problems.

At Löderup Boställe in Österlen, Leif Nilsson has been growing pumpkins for 30 years. The business has gradually grown as more and more consumers have discovered the benefits of the pumpkin as a tasty food and decorative tradition in connection with Halloween. Today, with a production of 2,000 tons per year, he is the largest pumpkin grower in Sweden and known in the industry as Pumpkin-Leif.

     The nickname is connected to his great commitment to developing the market for pumpkins. This applies both to which varieties are grown and the handling from cultivation to harvest to storage. Leif has been a forerunner in several respects, for example regarding the introduction of new varieties after trial cultivation in collaboration with seed companies.

      – We must develop constantly to meet new demands from consumers. This was the case, for example, when we were involved in launching butternut pumpkins in Sweden, as a good vegetarian alternative to meat with a smaller proportion of seeds than traditional pumpkins. Or this year, when we introduce the mini muscat as a tasty food pumpkin, just the right size for a main course for four people.

Clean water important to avoid mold

Important to increase interest and thus consumption of Swedish pumpkins is a steady supply throughout the year. In order for them to be attractive to consumers, they are washed before storage and delivery. If the water contains spores, there is a risk that the pumpkins will mold during storage.

      – We are trying to deal with the problem of mold by continuously supplying the treatment water with environmentally friendly hypochlorous acid we manufacture in a circular system from Anolytech on the farm. A big advantage of it is that the water is so clean that it can be flushed directly down the drain.

      Leif Nilsson’s hope is that the problems with mold will thus disappear, at the same time as the handling of environmentally hazardous chemicals and waste.

Certification builds credibility

As Anolytech started back in 2005, there were many sceptical voices regarding it’s sustainable method for disinfecting water without using harmful chemicals. 16 years later, a commonly increased environmental awareness is paving the way for a game changing shift towards disinfection based on Anolytech’s sustainable solution instead of using traditional chemicals.

      AnoDes is used within different areas where fighting unwanted bacteria like Campylobacter, Cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila is needed. One important reason is that it’s very effective without being harmful to animals and humans.

      The fact that Anolytech’s technique has been certified according to leading standards regarding hand and surface disinfection, contributes to the increased demand from clients in new markets and segments.