A bumper harvest of avocados has brought down the price of the green treasures in New Zealand, and just in time, a machine has been invented to stop them rotting.
Guacamole-lovers will be happy to hear about the 'avocado time machine', made by Queensland company Natavo Zero.
The huge machine stops the fruit browning by 'witching off' the enzyme that causes the rot. It does so by using steam to generate pressure fluctuations. The system also kills disease-causing bugs.
The machine can process 4000 avocados an hour, Naturo director Jeff Hastings said.
"By understanding the avocado's life cycle and the complex correlation of enzymes involved in the browning process, we have made it possible for the world to enjoy 100 percent natural, ready-to-eat avocado slices, dices, chunks or pulped products while retaining the flavour and fresh taste of avocado, without browning," Mr Hastings said in a statement.
Obtaining such 'evergreen' avocados here is unlikely just yet. For now we'll have to stick to old-fashioned lemon juice, cling film and refrigeration.
Newshub.
