by Peter Mehring | Sep 26, 2018 | Blockchain
The adoption of blockchain for food safety among growers and retailers is a positive development for all AgTech companies. It provides an opportunity for growers to embrace technology that can help organize their data and provide new insights for addressing pre- and post-harvest challenges. However, for the adoption of any technology to be successful, there must be proven value to the customer. If growers and retailers don’t benefit from a technology, such as blockchain, it likely won’t be embraced. Blockchain for use in the fresh...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Sep 25, 2018 | Freshness Management
The Game of Life, created by Milton Bradley, is intended to be a fun way to mimic life – you’re born, you decide to pursue a college degree or go directly to work, you get married, have kids, lose your job, lose a turn. It’s a race to the finish, but life often has its delays along the way. This process through the life-cycle is similar for fresh produce. In “The Game of Shelf-Life,” produce such as strawberries or lettuce is harvested, field-packed, rushed to the pack house, pre-cooled, warehoused, shipped in a...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Sep 18, 2018 | Operational Efficiency
Have you ever walked out to your yard and seen a long line of trucks with your produce waiting…in the hot sun? How is this impacting your post-harvest operational efficiency? You might find yourself asking, like the 1974 song by Ace, “How long has this been going on?” Whether you’re a grower, shipper or processor, managing costs is usually top of mind, especially when your biggest costs are labor and equipment. How can you make sure you’re efficiently utilizing both in your operations? What if your already limited labor resources...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Sep 11, 2018 | Sustainability
Did you know that perishable food waste contributes eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions? When we think of fresh food waste and sustainability, oftentimes commentary about the issue focuses on food that is not being used to feed the hungry or wasted food taking up space in landfills. But what happens to waste once it’s in the landfill? Perishable food waste produces greenhouse gases…a lot of greenhouse gases. The Impact of Fresh Food Waste A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, The Climate Impact of the Food in the...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Sep 4, 2018 | Good Causes
It’s National Family Meals Month! How many meals do you eat at home with your family on any given week? When I was a kid, pretty much every dinner was spent with my entire family. My mom always made sure we had a variety of fresh foods to eat including lean meats, veggies, pasta and often fresh strawberries (with vanilla ice cream, of course) for dessert. However, these images of classic Americana are now increasingly rare. Between parents working long hours, kids having baseball or soccer practices and games, plus dance and...Continue Reading...