July/August 2020 - 26

THE PULSE
INDUSTRY
INSIDER
Sugar-reducing juice system created by Better
Juice
Better Juice, Ltd., the first foodTech startup to develop
innovative technology to reduce all types of sugars in orange juice,
announces its patent-pending technology is now scaling up.
The startup is installing a semi-industrial pilot plant that also
will be available for future testing at global partners' plants. The
pilot plant features the company's sugar reduction process in a
continuous flow technology that ensures a consistent, safe and
effective enzymatic process.
Better Juice developed an enzymatic technology that uses allnatural
ingredients to convert fructose, glucose and sucrose into
prebiotic dietary fibers and other non-digestible molecules. Better
Juice's new pilot plant system marks a significant milestone in the
startup's commercial scale-up timeline.
It is able to reduce up to 80% of simple sugar in orange juice at
a rate of up to 50 liters/hour. Better Juice's non-GMO technology
is designed to target the specific sugar composition in the orange
juice to naturally create a low calorie reduced-sugar product
that has a delicate sweetness. It is accomplished without using
sweeteners or other additives to replace the sugars in the juice.
One of the major hurdles in continuous flow reduction of sugars
in natural juices is keeping the process contamination-free even
through large-scale production, without damaging the enzymatic
activity. Better Juice developed a new device crafted from
stainless steel, with aseptic fittings and welding, together with
a unique process that guarantees a continuous, safe flow for its
enzymatic sugar-reduction process for weeks at a time without
interrupting the sterilization stage.
Better Juice was founded December 2017 by a team of
biochemists and microbiologists from the industry and of The
Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The company received its founding
and is supported by The Kitchen Hub-Strauss Group's food-tech
incubator, Maverick Ventures Israel and other global partners.
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produceprocessing.net
eliminating the need to travel long distances when shipping
perishable products. Kalera's plants grow while consuming 95%
less water compared to field farming.
Kalera is able to quickly open its newest growing facility in
Houston as a result of a streamlined design and construction
process. As Kalera accelerates its growth over the next few years,
it will continue to open additional facilities, expanding production
capacity throughout the U.S. and internationally.
The new facility is being announced a mere two months after
Kalera announced it will be opening a new facility in Atlanta in
early 2021 - an announcement that took place less than two
months after it opened its second Orlando farm.
While Kalera's Atlanta farm is slated to be the highest
production volume vertical farm in the Southeast, the new
Houston facility will be even larger, and will generate dozens of
new jobs for the local Houston community.
Vie-Del acquires high-concentration operation
from Constellation
Vie-Del Company, the oldest family-owned grape processor
and supplier of bulk juices, concentrate, brandy, wine and spirits
in California, announced that a definitive agreement was signed
June 24, 2020, with Constellation Brands U.S. Operations
(CBUSO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation Brands Inc.,
to acquire the Constellation's grape concentrate and high-color
concentrate business.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and
requires Federal Trade Commission (FTC) review and clearance.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The agreement includes CBUSO's Mega Purple, Mega Red,
Kalera to open vertical farming facility in Houston
Vertical farming company Kalera plans to open a new state-ofthe-art
growing facility in Houston in the spring of 2021.
Kalera's new Houston facility will be the largest vertical farming
facility in Texas. In a press release, the company cited it as the
" next step " in its mission to bring leafy greens to consumers that
are " fresher " and " safer " than field-grown lettuce.
The company utilizes cleanroom technology and processes
to eliminate the use of chemicals and remove exposure to
pathogens. With indoor facilities situated right where the demand
is, Kalera is able to supply an abundance of produce locally,
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MegaNatural and Canandaigua Concentrate brands used in
CBUSO's concentrates and high-color concentrate business
and certain intellectual property, inventory, goodwill, interests
in certain contracts, assets and liabilities. Vie-Del plans to
incorporate the MegaNatural High Color Concentrate product
lines under the corporate Vie-Del Company brand and legacy
product lines.
This acquisition strengthens Vie-Del's capabilities and positions
the company as a leader in the high-color concentrate business.
Together with Vie-Del's existing concentrate business, these new
capabilities will further enhance the company's ability to serve the
needs of the marketplace.
Founded in 1946, Vie-Del is a family-owned fruit processor,
winery and distillery operated by the Nury family. One of the
oldest California-based grape processors and suppliers of bulk
juices, concentrate, brandy, wine and spirits, the company also
produces a variety of other products for sale to the wine, spirit,
food and beverage industries.
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July/August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2020
