FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is WCA Blends?

WCA Blends is a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides.  All ingredients in the blends are recognized by the FDA as Generally Recognized As Safe (G.R.A.S.). For more information on G.R.A.S. please visit http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/grasguid.html

2. How can it improve product shelf life?

All WCA Blends are designed to improve product shelf life.  Different groups of products have different requirements.  By inhibiting the respiration and oxidation process of fresh-cut produce it improves product shelf life. As an example WCA R Blend is used to delay the onset of enzymatic browning and pinking at the cut surface of topped and tailed romaine as well as for cored iceberg lettuce.  

3. Does WCA Blends protect or does it affect the taste, texture or color of fresh-cut product?

WCA Blends does protect the natural taste, color and texture due to its proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides.  Since the WCA Blends focuses on inhibiting the respiration and oxidation process which occurs only on the product surface, that means that all the “good stuff” such as taste, texture and color remains protected.

4. What produce items can be treated with WCA Blends?

The WCA Blends line of products has expanded to include a wide variety of fresh-cut vegetables.  There are three (3) main blends:  WCA T6 for Cut Vegetables, such as carrots, onions, peppers, etc.:  WCA R  for Post Harvest (Topped and Tailed Romaine / Pre-cored Lettuce) and  WCA P for Peeled Potatoes.

5. What effect, if any, do our WCA Blends products have on microbial growth?

Microbial growth is a function of the overall sanitary conditions of the processing plant and the microbial load of the whole vegetable. WCA Blends DOES NOT control microbial growth. Testing shows that a slowing of the microbial growth is somewhat achieved using WCA products.

6. Do I need Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to achieve the extended shelf life benefits?

You have a wide choice of packaging, which would be acceptable when using WCA Blends. Simple 1-4 mil poly ethylene (PE) bags are generally acceptable. With Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) the shelf life of fresh-cut produce could be extended up to 28 days.  MAP would enhance the product shelf life on various produce.

7. How are WCA Blends products applied?

Once you make WCA Blends solution, the cut produce could be either dipped or sprayed.

8. How is WCA Blends packaged and what is the shelf life?

WCA Blends comes in a dry form, a powdered blend of vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides. The package, if properly stored away from excess light or moisture, will last from 1 to 3 years depending on the specific product.

9. What concentration of WCA Blends per liters or gallons of water per grams or lbs. of product?

Quantities of WCA Blends vary depending upon the size of your tank and the type of produce treated. Please contact us for further assistance or use the table below for calculating the required amount of WCA Blend (Extender™) or product pounds to be treated.

10. Which factors affect the results of WCA Blends?

Produce variety and quality have a major impact on performance. One needs to start with quality produce in order to yield quality cut produce.

11. How do I begin the process of evaluating WCA Blends for my specific produce item?

 Contact us: kevin@westcoastag.com or call us direct at 408-417-0131.