Innovative vapor-permeable film harnesses evapotranspiration to prevent condensation and boost shelf life across global supply chains
On April 25, 2025, Guatemala-based Unispice, the world’s largest grower and shipper of French Beans, launched an innovative packaging material for its born Farms Cleaned & Trimmed Green Beans designed to eliminate in-bag moisture through evapotranspiration, thereby extending shelf life and preserving freshness for its extensive customer network across the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Europe, Asia and the UK.
The solution involves packing two 5-pound bags per case in a vapor-permeable film that balances moisture exchange to avoid condensation without compromising product integrity.
Delivering a consistently fresh product is critical for Unispice’s global operations, given the complexity and scale of its supply chain.
As the world’s largest grower and shipper of French Beans, the company supports retailers, foodservice distributors and wholesale buyers across diverse markets who rely on strict quality standards, precise temperature control and predictable shelf stability.
The produce industry frequently introduces new technologies across growing, harvesting and packing operations to meet consumer demand for freshness.
By pioneering this moisture-regulating packaging, Unispice joins a wave of innovators focused on supply chain resilience and post-harvest optimization.
The bagging material has been engineered to leverage evapotranspiration an approach that combines evaporation and transpiration to convert excess moisture into vapor and expel it through the film thus preventing internal condensation and product breakdown.
Packed in cases containing two 5-pound bags, the material dynamically regulates humidity levels within each bag, resulting in a markedly fresher end product and significantly longer shelf life for the beans.
By removing unneeded moisture, the packaging also reduces spoilage-related waste and economic losses for growers, shippers and retailers.
“Supplying our customers with a superior product, one that stays fresh and has a longer shelf life, is our ultimate goal. Our QA Team in Guatemala is always looking for new and advanced processes that can improve how we operate and produce a better product which is part of what born Farms is all about.”
Christopher Safieh, Vice President of Unispice
By integrating this packaging innovation across its global distribution network, Unispice aims to fortify product integrity from farm to shelf particularly in longer transit routes where delays and temperature fluctuations can compromise quality.
By testing batch samples under various humidity and temperature conditions, the team validates the packaging’s performance and ensures consistency across production runs.
Options are available for retail, foodservice or wholesale operators and can be customized to specific packaging configurations and distribution schedules to meet distinct market demands.
Evapotranspiration a process that combines the movement of moisture from the produce surface and soil into the atmosphere plays a central role in the packaging’s function.
When excess moisture accumulates, the film’s permeability allows vapor to escape without exposing the beans to dry air, preserving texture and nutritional quality.
Too much moisture in the bag will cause it to break down faster, thus drastically reducing the integrity of the product, making balanced vapor exchange essential for maintaining both package and produce quality.
Natus Foods, a division of the Unispice family, will manage all sales and distribution for born Farms products across the United States and Canada.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Natus Foods serves as the direct liaison between growers in Guatemala and buyers in North America, offering customers the flexibility to pick up orders at strategically located cold storage facilities in Miami, Florida, or McAllen, Texas.
This regional approach reduces transit times and handling steps, helping to preserve bean quality while streamlining order fulfillment.
