Latest News From Packer Tech

Data Opens Up New Solutions At The Farm Gate
Data Opens Up New Solutions At The Farm Gate

Whether it's planting, spraying, soil sampling or harvesting, new tools are turning the information you collect into actionable insights.

ProducePay unveils Visibility solution to improve transparency, reduce food waste
ProducePay unveils Visibility solution to improve transparency, reduce food waste

Agtech company ProducePay says Visibility gives buyers the ability to monitor and manage produce shipments via a digital dashboard on the ProducePay platform.

Liberty Robotics Inc. launches new systems
Liberty Robotics Inc. launches new systems

Called VPick and VPack, the systems use artificial-intelligence vision systems to enhance warehouse efficiency and reliability, the company says.

Local Bounti gets patent for Stack & Flow Technology
Local Bounti gets patent for Stack & Flow Technology

The indoor agriculture company’s indoor agriculture production techniques now patented.

Verdant Technologies' HarvestHold Fresh shows extended freshness and shelf life in study
Verdant Technologies' HarvestHold Fresh shows extended freshness and shelf life in study

The study found the product’s slow and controlled release of industry-standard 1‑methylcyclopropene to be more effective in extending the shelf life of broccoli compared to traditional in-room 1-MCP applications.

BeeHero deploys research stations to provide users real-time data
BeeHero deploys research stations to provide users real-time data

The data-driven pollination company said these research stations will offer live-streamed bee activity and bloom progression data to help growers better understand bee activity in their orchards.

 Exploring the vineyard of the future project's broader impacts
Exploring the vineyard of the future project's broader impacts

Sean Sundberg, business integration manager for John Deere, shares how a collaboration with Sonoma County Winegrowers on the “vineyard of the future” project will benefit other specialty crop growers.

Sorma Group launches new box-filling robot
Sorma Group launches new box-filling robot

The robot can place up to 30 to 40 packs of produce a minute, an efficiency that can substitute for one or two production line operators, the company says.

How technology can help protect bees and aid beekeepers
How technology can help protect bees and aid beekeepers

In this "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode, Omer Davidi, CEO of beehive technology platform BeeHero, shares how his company’s innovations help maximize crop yields for an important resource in the produce industry. 

Kwik Lok offers high-performance programable printer
Kwik Lok offers high-performance programable printer

The printer can print on closures with speeds that coincide with the Kwik Lok closing machines that customers already have on lines, says Karen Reed, global director of marketing and communications.

Tomra Food presents new organization, unveils AI-powered platforms
Tomra Food presents new organization, unveils AI-powered platforms

Tomra Food has unveiled its new organizational structure, showcased its sorting, grading and packing solutions, and has launched three new AI-powered sorting and grading solutions.

John Deere, GUSS Automation add electric option for orchard sprayer
John Deere, GUSS Automation add electric option for orchard sprayer

The companies unveiled this latest iteration of the autonomous sprayer to offer growers a more sustainable spraying option.

SpartanNash adding inventory robot to more stores
SpartanNash adding inventory robot to more stores

The food solutions company is expanding its partnership with Simbe, deploying the company's business intelligence solution, Tally, across 60 additional stores in the Midwest to generate real-time inventory insights.

Carbon Robotics unveils new LaserWeeder model
Carbon Robotics unveils new LaserWeeder model

The artificial-intelligence robotics company has released the Track LaserWeeder, a new model of its LaserWeeder weed control solution, as well as a pair of software enhancements.

Autonomous ag robotics company raises $11.5M, eyes U.S. expansion
Autonomous ag robotics company raises $11.5M, eyes U.S. expansion

Saga Robotics’ solutions use UV-C light to eradicate powdery mildew in strawberry fields and vineyards. The company said it plans to expand in the U.S. to deploy its solutions in vineyards thanks to its latest funding.

ProducePay raises $38M in Series D financing
ProducePay raises $38M in Series D financing

The Los Angeles-based agtech company says it will use the latest capital to accelerate expansion to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, as well as advance the development of technology and services.

Fall Creek Farm and Nursery invests in mechanical harvesting company
Fall Creek Farm and Nursery invests in mechanical harvesting company

As a minority investor, the Oregon-based blueberry breeder and nursery will offer support and expertise to the Neatherlands-based mechanical harvesting solutions provider FineField.

Bluewhite raises $39M to bring sustainable autonomous innovation to farms
Bluewhite raises $39M to bring sustainable autonomous innovation to farms

Bluewhite, an Israel-based agricultural robot-as-a-service company enabling data-driven autonomous farming, says it works with more than 20 of the leading permanent crop growers in the U.S.

Tomra Food launches two AI-powered sorting and grading solutions
Tomra Food launches two AI-powered sorting and grading solutions

Two recent product launches by Tomra Solutions have shown how AI is changing food processing.

Agtech startup says precision pollination service boosts pistachio crop
Agtech startup says precision pollination service boosts pistachio crop

The company says its precision pollination services help boost cropset when conditions are less than ideal for bee activity.

Agtech company Burro gets $24M investment
Agtech company Burro gets $24M investment

The autonomous agriculture solution company says the investment from Translink Capital and Catalyst Investors will boost its future plans.

Year in Produce 2023: Variety innovation aided by GMO and CRISPR technology
Year in Produce 2023: Variety innovation aided by GMO and CRISPR technology

Only a few fresh fruit and vegetables are available in GMO varieties, but advances in CRISPR breeding technology means more genetically improved foods will be headed to shopping carts in coming years.

Podcast: Why you need to focus on cybersecurity 
Podcast: Why you need to focus on cybersecurity 

You’re more vulnerable than you think, says Eric Regnier, vice president of operations at ZAG Technical Services, who shares ways produce businesses can prepare for threats on the latest "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast.

Chipotle invests $50M in ag robotics, climate-smart fertilizer
Chipotle invests $50M in ag robotics, climate-smart fertilizer

Funds will help build Greenfield Robotics' autonomous technology into other crops and Nitricity’s fertilizer produced without carbon emissions. Field trials begin for Nitricity’s fertilizer in the Salinas Valley.

Food supply-chain solutions provider secures $35M investment
Food supply-chain solutions provider secures $35M investment

Silo Technologies says the funding will advance its capacity to develop modular solutions for inventory management, freight logistics, enhanced order management, modern payment options and innovative capital solutions.

Commercial spraying with drone technology begins in Salinas Valley
Commercial spraying with drone technology begins in Salinas Valley

Guardian Agriculture has deployed four of its aviation-grade Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or eVTOL, aircraft to spray crops in California's Salinas Valley.

 Oppy and UP Vertical Farms introduce top-seal pack
Oppy and UP Vertical Farms introduce top-seal pack

The packaging aims to better meet the evolving needs of the market, combining sustainability, freshness and an enhanced eating experience, according to the company.

McCain Foods launches potato tech company
McCain Foods launches potato tech company

Canada-based processed potato producer McCain Foods has launched Presia Ag Insights.

Podcast: Why ag needs to budget for IT
Podcast: Why ag needs to budget for IT

In this latest "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast with ZAG Technical Services, Chief Financial Officer Tim Bussey explores the importance of making an investment in tech, the biggest challenges faced in IT planning and more.

Inteligistics patents labor-saving process for fresh produce management
Inteligistics patents labor-saving process for fresh produce management

The company says the system “combines environmental and product data with real-time temperature probe data to generate a machine-learning model that is predictive of product temperature and quality ...”

Climate Robotics wins AgSharks Pitch Competition
Climate Robotics wins AgSharks Pitch Competition

The developer of mobile biochar production systems for commercial agriculture was one of three startups that pitched inventions in front of an audience of more than 300 fresh produce farmers and industry leaders.

New potato plant variety called a natural, affordable radiation sensor
New potato plant variety called a natural, affordable radiation sensor

A researcher at the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture has developed a potato plant that can detect gamma radiation.

 Stemilt upgrades packing line capabilities
 Stemilt upgrades packing line capabilities

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers has added new capabilities in a new apple line packinghouse extension.

Tomra Food wins award for foreign material identification
Tomra Food wins award for foreign material identification

The foreign material identification accuracy of Tomra Food's sorting and grading solutions has won an International FoodTec Award.

Agtools partnership with Procurant aims to help predict produce quality
Agtools partnership with Procurant aims to help predict produce quality

The partnership, leveraging advanced analytics and insights, can help streamline customers’ day-to-day activities around forecasting and purchase orders, according to a news release.

Are fresh produce and AI a perfect match? It’s complicated, experts say
Are fresh produce and AI a perfect match? It’s complicated, experts say

What artificial intelligence is, what it represents, its opportunities, benefits and potential threats were on the mind of industry leaders spanning the fresh produce supply chain.

How IFPA's Vonnie Estes opens the produce industry to outsiders
How IFPA's Vonnie Estes opens the produce industry to outsiders

In this "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode, learn from Vonnie Estes, vice president of innovation for International Fresh Produce Association, as she shares how she's helping innovators gain market access.

Verdant Technologies unveils research lab
Verdant Technologies unveils research lab

The company says the Verdant Innovation Lab will help it develop solutions that extend the life and quality of perishable products.

Procurant signs Schnucks for perishables order management and produce inspections
Procurant signs Schnucks for perishables order management and produce inspections

Procurant says it has implemented the Procurant One technology platform for perishables purchasing, produce inspections and source-to-pay order management at Schnucks Markets Inc.

Tomra Food to reveal AI-powered fruit sorting and grading solutions at IFPA show
Tomra Food to reveal AI-powered fruit sorting and grading solutions at IFPA show

Tomra Food is launching two new sorting and grading solutions at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show in California.

ag tech
3 finalists named to compete in AgSharks’ pitch competition

Climate Robotics, Cultiva and Privision have been selected to pitch their innovations to produce leaders for a chance to win at least $250,000 in funding during the sixth annual AgSharks Competition in November.

RedLine Solutions and RSM integrate solutions for produce inventory and accounting
RedLine Solutions and RSM integrate solutions for produce inventory and accounting

With integration, MyProduce Professional synchronizes and updates RSM in real time, providing a seamless software experience from field to warehouse dock, to sales and into back-end accounting, according to a release.

Co-op Partners adds Prophet system
Co-op Partners adds Prophet system

St. Paul, Minn.-based Co-op Partners Warehouse may specialize in selling fresh fruits and vegetables, but customers will soon find out that ordering from them is a piece of cake.

AgroFresh announces leaders attending IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show
AgroFresh announces leaders attending IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show

Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has announced the attendance of key leadership at the 2023 International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce & Floral Show.

Lytone’s shelf-life solution portfolio grows with 2 new formulas
Lytone’s shelf-life solution portfolio grows with 2 new formulas

The postharvest solution developer Lytone is adding two products to tackle contamination and browning issues in fresh produce.

Produce buyers: D'Arrigo New York now has an online platform
Produce buyers: D'Arrigo New York now has an online platform

D’Arrigo New York’s online platform allows a customer to place an order directly into the ProducePro system, where the entire product lineup can be found.

Tomra Food and Van Doren Sales strengthen partnership
Tomra Food and Van Doren Sales strengthen partnership

Tomra Food and Van Doren Sales have renewed their partnership and commitment to serving customers driven by shared values and goals.

Reusable Packaging Association publishes retail white paper
Reusable Packaging Association publishes retail white paper

The document shares critical elements to help retailers and their suppliers further understand and accelerate the use of reusable transport packaging assets, according to a news release.

CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform
CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform

Its first harvester was for strawberries, and last year it launched the apple harvester for use in Washington.

This tracking tool seeks to digitize quality assurance
This tracking tool seeks to digitize quality assurance

Apeel Sciences’ RipeTrack tool aims to offer real-time, digital insights about ripeness and quality across the fresh produce supply chain.