The aim of the operation is to develop an improved technology for extending the shelf life of apples, taking into account the spatial, temporal and assortment distance of deliveries to international markets, in addition to the development and implementation of a fruit production quality system and a process management system for the sphere of activity of the group of fruit farms - as a tool for monitoring production agrotechnics and the course of technological processes for extending the shelf life of apples.
The direct addressee of the activities carried out under the operation os the Cooperative Group of Fruit Producers 'Szeliga'. It is planned that the development of a significantly improved technology will make it possible to extend the shelf life by 25% to 50% for at least 3 varieties of apples, and what is very important - while maintaining their nutritional and health-promoting properies and commercial quality. Selected by the operating group, the best and the most effective technology that meets the organizational and economic selection criteria will be tested in industrial conditions. Verification of the technology developed in laboratory conditions and obtaining positive results of the pilot implementation of these technologies in industrial conditions will give a strong motivation to implement such technology. It is a key element for the group of fruit producers on the way to gaining a competitive advantage in the fruit (apple) market. Thih may create an opportunity to put into practice the developed technology by grups of fruit producers in our country and increase the competitiveness of Polish products in the domestic and international fruit markets. The beneficiaries of the expected results of the operation are the recipients of the products, including their consumers. Extending the apples' shelf life will contribute to reducing losses in the supply chain to domestic and international markets while optimizing the costs of production, storage and distribution of fruits.
As past of the operation, it is also planned to develop and implement a significantly improved method of organization - process management of the entire sphere of activity of the producer group (including fruit farms - members of the group), more effective (than traditional) in a company using several complex technological processes in the production process using modern technologies. In addition, a fruit production quality system will be developed and executed. It will be integrated with the management system and support the elements and processes of the improved technology.
The subject of the operation concerns an innovation that has not been used in Poland so far, because the result of this operation, which is the extension of the shelf life of apples, will be achieved as a result of the synergistic effect of the useof several preservation techniques, which have not been used so far jointly in the entire process of agroproduction, storage and distribution of apples.
