
Understanding the Role of Humidity Control in Food Display and Storage: Best Practices and Equipment Solutions
December 01, 2024
In the world of food retail, maintaining the right environment is crucial to preserving the freshness and quality of perishable goods in the retail environment. Recent data reveals that approximately 66 million tons of food is wasted each year in the United States. One often-overlooked factor in this equation is humidity control. Whether in refrigerated cases or non-refrigerated displays, improper humidity levels in grocery stores can lead to food spoilage, shrinkage, and increased waste — ultimately affecting both product longevity and profitability.

With advanced solutions like FogMist and Aguatronics technology, managing humidity has become more efficient and effective. In this article, we’ll explore the critical role of humidity control in food storage, highlight best practices for maintaining optimal conditions, and showcase how FogMist and Aguatronics can revolutionize the way you store and display your products.
The Impact of Humidity on Food Preservation
Maintaining proper humidity levels is essential for preserving the freshness, quality, and shelf life of perishable goods, as it directly impacts their texture, color, and overall condition.
Humidity and Food Freshness
Perishable goods, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, seafood, and meats, are particularly vulnerable to changes in humidity. When the air is too dry, it pulls moisture out of these products, causing them to wilt, shrivel, and lose weight, and it also changes the product’s natural color, and texture. Conversely, excessively humid environments can encourage the growth of mold and bacteria, leading to faster spoilage and cross-contamination. Therefore, maintaining proper humidity is essential to preserving the quality of various perishable goods and reducing food waste.
75% of consumers said that they deliberately choose food and beverages that look more appealing to them. This can cause customers to avoid foods that might look less vibrant, reducing sales and increasing food wastage. Additionally, fresh produce is the primary driver for customer loyalty. “Fresh will continue to be a point of differentiation for grocers and continue to be an opportunity to engage the conscious consumer, who among other attributes, cares about quality and freshness.” (https://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/how-can-fresh-produce-reach-conscious-consumer)

Humidification in Non-Refrigerated Display Cases
In non-refrigerated food displays, particularly in regions outside North America, humidity plays a key role in keeping products fresh as there is no temperature control. By providing a consistent level of moisture, humidity helps keep perishable foods hydrated, preventing them from wilting or becoming limp, thereby increasing product weight, quality, and shelf life.
Additionally by integrating humidity systems, and the resulting evaporative cooling — the process in which moisture evaporates and naturally cools the surrounding air, businesses can keep food products fresh and at a lower temperature, without relying on mechanical cooling systems, thus also saving on energy expenses.
Maintaining Humidity in Refrigerated Display Cases
Refrigerated cases are designed to prolong the freshness of perishable goods through temperature control, but cold air holds less moisture than warm air. The dry, cold air produced as a result of refrigeration increases moisture loss from foods, leading to shrinkage, weight loss, and reduced shelf life. Maintaining proper humidity levels in these refrigerated environments is even more essential to ensuring moisture and quality retention, and preventing unnecessary food wastage.
Benefits of Humidification
Proper humidification does more than just preserve the visual appeal of produce; it also maintains weight, color, texture, and flavor. When the right level of humidity is maintained, fruits and vegetables stay firm, leafy greens remain crisp, and meats and seafood retain their color and texture — prolonging the shelf life, leading to less food waste and better profitability for businesses. By investing in effective humidity control, businesses can ensure that their products remain of the highest quality for as long as possible.
Humidity Options for Retailers
A handful of equipment manufacturers address the need for optimal humidity at the retail level. One manufacturer, Prodew Inc. has developed FogMist as a result of years of research and development. A key feature of FogMist technology is its ability to maintain optimal humidity levels by producing micron-sized droplets, small enough to be absorbed by fruits and vegetables. This helps maintain turgor pressure and the crispness of produce, without over-humidifying produce and display cases.
The technology allowing the formation of the optimally sized micro droplets sets FogMist apart from any competitors and ensures that fruits and vegetables remain hydrated, fresh, and appealing to customers.The micron-sized droplets of FogMist also keep other perishable foods including meats, seafood, and cheese optimally hydrated, maintaining the freshness and shelf-life of these high priced items.
Effect of Humidity in Cold Storage Warehouses
Beyond retail settings, humidity control is also vital in large-scale storage environments, such as cold storage warehouses. Proper post-harvest humidity management prevents food degradation, helping businesses store large quantities of produce without compromising on quality. This is especially important for products that need to be transported long distances or stored for extended periods.
Humidity Options for Cold Storage Warehouses
Prodew Inc. manufactures Aguatronics for larger scale humidity applications, such as in storage warehouses, with all the benefits of FogMist.
3 Best Practices for Humidity Management
Effective humidity management requires a strategic approach that combines regular monitoring and the integration of advanced solutions to maintain optimal conditions for food storage.
1. Monitor and Adjust Humidity in Storage
To maintain optimal humidity levels, it is essential to monitor conditions regularly. Storage environments require specific humidity ranges to preserve different types of produce, meat, and seafood. Investing in high-quality humidity sensors and control systems will help businesses ensure they are providing the best possible storage environment for their products.
2. Choose the Correct Humidity Equipment
It is essential to choose equipment that maintains optimal humidity without wetting the product and packaging. For example, FogMist and Aguatronics humidity systems can create up to 98% humidity without wetting surfaces. FogMist can be used for display cases and small storage areas, while Aguatronics humidity equipment is applicable to walk-in coolers and larger storage rooms. Additionally, the FogMist and Aguatronics equipment requires lower water and air pressure, making it compatible with your existing infrastructure without the need for expensive supporting equipment.
3. Integrating FogMist and Aguatronics Effectively in Storage and Displays
While integrating FogMist and Aguatronics technology into existing setups is simple and straightforward, to maximize the benefits of this equipment, consider where the technology will be most effective and ensure that it is installed and maintained according to manufacturer guidelines for optimal humidity distribution. Proper placement and regular maintenance of equipment are key to ensuring consistent performance.
Revolutionizing Food Display and Storage With FogMist and Aguatronics Technology
FogMist and Aguatronics technology offers a cutting-edge solution for humidity control, producing micron-sized droplets that ensure even moisture absorption in produce and other perishable foods. This helps maintain freshness, color, and texture while utilizing evaporative cooling to reduce energy costs and maintenance needs. Unlike traditional misting and humidity systems, FogMist and Aguatronics prevent issues like debris buildup, corrosion of shelves and cases, and over-humidification of products, leading to a more hygienic and efficient environment.
Ideal for both refrigerated and non-refrigerated storage and displays, FogMist and Aguatronics effectively address common humidity management challenges, keeping produce hydrated, reducing shrinkage, and maintaining weight and freshness. Businesses adopting FogMist can expect reduced food wastage, energy savings, and improved product quality, ultimately enhancing profitability. By integrating this innovative technology, companies can set a new standard for food storage and preservation.
Get in touch with Prodew Inc. to learn more about FogMist and Aguatronics technology and explore Prodew’s other product offerings for optimized food storage solutions today.
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