by Kevin Payne | Dec 18, 2018 | Freshness Management
What’s So Bad About Wasting 10%? When it comes to fresh produce waste, the industry has a problem. Let me provide an analogy. Consider the Auto Industry Have you ever taken a tour of an automobile manufacturing facility? I toured what was then a General Motors factory when I was a youth. (That factory now makes Teslas.) It was fascinating to watch the parts arrive from the floor and ceiling, coming together at just the right time to produce a car. A lot of time, effort, expertise and money goes into making a car on an assembly...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Dec 11, 2018 | Blockchain, Freshness Management, Retail Grocery, Supply Chain
The Best of Zest – 2018 In 2018, the Zest Labs Blog provided a timeline for what was topical in the fresh food supply chain industry. Google Analytics details which blogs most resonated with our readers. Our analysis reveals a few interesting fresh food industry trends in 2018. In the “Best of Zest” we offer you highlights from the year and some hints of things to look for in 2019. Fresh Food Industry Trend #1: Food Technology Is “So Hot Right Now” New food-related technologies, particularly blockchain for the fresh food supply...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Nov 27, 2018 | Freshness Management
We have a problem with fresh food shelf-life. How do we know this? America wastes 40 percent of its food, according to the National Resource Defense Council’s 2017 Wasted report. That’s like buying five bags of groceries, leaving the store and throwing two of them into the dumpster and driving away. The report goes on to state that 12 percent of fruit and 10 percent of vegetables are wasted at the retailer. Even more is wasted by consumers, many of whom watch produce spoil prematurely at their home before they can consume it. No...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Nov 20, 2018 | Freshness Management
Shelf-life variability is something that you may experience every week but never think about. Look at it this way: How long do you expect your fresh produce to remain “fresh” after it’s purchased and brought home? Before joining Zest Labs, this question never really crossed my mind. I just expected it wouldn’t spoil before I consumed it. Chances are your grocer has a target amount of time for how long you should be able to store the produce you bought before it spoils or goes bad. After all, they want to be able to keep your...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Nov 13, 2018 | Freshness Management
Do produce shelf-life extenders actually prevent food waste? As produce suppliers and grocery store chains face increased competition and reduced margins, they turn their attention to finding ways to reduce fresh food waste. About 12 percent of fruits and 10 percent of vegetables are wasted at the retail store, according to the NRDC. If one out of 10 heads of lettuce or clam shells of strawberries are being tossed because they spoiled prematurely, that’s a lot of money going to waste that significantly impacts profitability. A...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Nov 6, 2018 | Freshness Management
Many of us have been told something like “Today you saved $12!” as the clerk hands us our receipt at the grocery store. It’s great to know that you saved money by essentially doing something you were already going to do anyway – shop for groceries. Recent advancements in cold supply chain temperature monitoring and management solutions, offer growers, shippers and retailers a similar benefit. Without significant changes in your cold chain processes, you can save money – money that positively impacts your bottom line beginning on...Continue Reading...
