Latest News From Packer Tech

Soil health tech startup gains financial backing to scale up
Soil health tech startup gains financial backing to scale up

MyLand has secured $12 million to expand its novel soil health optimizing service.

AgroFresh signs definitive transaction agreement with Paine Schwartz Partners
AgroFresh signs definitive transaction agreement with Paine Schwartz Partners

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.

Firework’s social-media-style video content aims to spark sales at Walmart, The Fresh Market
Firework’s social-media-style video content aims to spark sales at Walmart, The Fresh Market

The collaboration brings livestream and premium shoppable video content to the customer experience at Walmart, The Fresh Market and more.

Kliewer Farms LLC and Hazel collaborate on Hazel 100 kiwifruit trials
Kliewer Farms LLC and Hazel collaborate on Hazel 100 kiwifruit trials

The trial used the Hazel 100 sachet on the company’s exclusive kiwifruit variety, Mega Kiwi.

Mastronardi funds AppHarvest to grow greens, expand farms in Appalachia
Mastronardi funds AppHarvest to grow greens, expand farms in Appalachia

The CEA farm developer has received a $30 million loan to build automated salad mix farm for Mastronardi Produce's “Queen of Greens” salad mix brand.

Procurant Ship debuts at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show
Procurant Ship debuts at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show

Procurant and Uber Freight have launched a new shipping logistics platform at 2022’s IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show.

Apeel Sciences unveils technology that reveals ripeness with a simple scan
Apeel Sciences unveils technology that reveals ripeness with a simple scan

Food tech innovator Apeel has launched RipeFinder, an imaging tool that determines produce ripeness with a simple scan and has practical uses across the produce supply chain.

Windset Farms pilots shelf-life extension technology on tomatoes
Windset Farms pilots shelf-life extension technology on tomatoes

North American greenhouse grower is partnering with Verdant Technologies in retail pilot of tomatoes from Mexico that uses slow ripening post-harvest technology.

CTRL+S Your Farm Computer: 3 Tips To Lower Your Farm’s Cyberattack Risks
CTRL+S Your Farm Computer: 3 Tips To Lower Your Farm’s Cyberattack Risks

How to protect the computers that run America’s farms. 

Protect Your Farm: Don’t Let Cyberattacks Hold Your Data for Ransom
Protect Your Farm: Don’t Let Cyberattacks Hold Your Data for Ransom

You could "lose the farm" because of an unforeseen cyberattack. Here's how to understand your risk and protect your farm.

Windy Hill Orchard finds solution with Hazel Technologies 
Windy Hill Orchard finds solution with Hazel Technologies 

Castleton, N.Y.-based Windy Hill Orchard has found the solution it needed for fruit preservation with Chicago-based Hazel Technologies.

Western Growers unveils videos featuring next generation agtech robots
Western Growers unveils videos featuring next generation agtech robots

Western Growers is celebrating the start of the first American edition of the ag robotics conference FIRA with videos showing new technology that will help solve the industry's ongoing labor shortage.

Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks close deal creating a partnership to develop biological products for agriculture
Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks close deal creating a partnership to develop biological products for agriculture

Bayer has announced the company has closed its previously announced transaction with Ginkgo Bioworks to begin a multiyear strategic partnership to accelerate research and development of ag biological products.

Nanovel to introduce an autonomous tree fruit harvester
Nanovel to introduce an autonomous tree fruit harvester

Isaac Mazor, founder and CEO of Israel-based Nanovel Ltd., says the company expects to launch its beta version of an autonomous tree fruit harvester in 2023 for the citrus market. 

Turning tech investments into a competitive advantage
Turning tech investments into a competitive advantage

Being prepared for everything from natural disasters to cybersecurity attacks are just some of the reasons produce companies should strategically invest in tech today, says Patrick Day of ZAG Technical Services.

Monarch Tractor’s Electric, Driver Optional Machine To Be Made in Ohio
Monarch Tractor’s Electric, Driver Optional Machine To Be Made in Ohio

The fully electric, autonomous tractors feature 10 hours of runtime, 70 peak hp, and twice the torque of a comparable conventional tractor.

WARP adds ‘Fresh Freight’ division, names new executive
WARP adds ‘Fresh Freight’ division, names new executive

Los Angeles-based WARP, a tech-enabled network of cross-docks and carriers specializing in middle-mile solutions, has announced Jake McPaul as a new executive for the company.

Kwik Lok to introduce new closing machine at IFPA show
Kwik Lok to introduce new closing machine at IFPA show

Kwik Lok is introducing its new 865B at the International Floral and Produce Association (IFPA) show in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 27-29, 2022.

Blockchain start-up and Fresh Del Monte team up, launching traceability label
Blockchain start-up and Fresh Del Monte team up, launching traceability label

Vertically integrated, fresh produce giant invests in tech company, Decapolis, with plans to develop food industry, blockchain-enabled traceability tool, starting with Fresh Del Monte’s Costa Rican pineapples.

Herbicide GUSS Sprayer Now Available at Select John Deere Dealer Locations
Herbicide GUSS Sprayer Now Available at Select John Deere Dealer Locations

More than three dozen U.S. John Deere dealerships will now sell the GUSS autonomous sprayer. The company says the Herbicide GUSS is the first and only autonomous orchard herbicide applicator.

John Phipps: You'll Have to See This to Believe What Artificial Intelligence Can Now Do
John Phipps: You'll Have to See This to Believe What Artificial Intelligence Can Now Do

An artist recently used artificial intelligence to create a painting without a brushstroke or pencil line. What does it mean for agriculture? John Phipps explains why the connection might be closer than you think.

Driscoll's heads to Virginia to grow strawberries in world's largest indoor vertical farm
Driscoll's heads to Virginia to grow strawberries in world's largest indoor vertical farm

Plenty Unlimited Inc., the city of Richmond, VA and Driscoll's team up to deliver vertically farmed strawberries in vertical farming campus behemoth in late 2023.

BioConsortia showcases innovation pipeline
BioConsortia showcases innovation pipeline

BioConsortia displayed its innovation pipeline on Aug. 30 at its Davis, Calif., headquarters in an investor-focused Technology Showcase event.

Hazel Tech: Bin sachets are a reliable solution for apple growers
Hazel Tech: Bin sachets are a reliable solution for apple growers

Hazel Technologies, Inc.’s Hazel 100 bin sachets have become a versatile and reliable solution for small, midsize, and even larger apple growers and cold storage operators, according to a news release.

New tech sizes 5,000-plus apples as trucks arrive at receiving
New tech sizes 5,000-plus apples as trucks arrive at receiving

Fruit technology solution provider Hectre is finding industry acceptance with Spectre Top Down, a tool the company reports is capable of sizing more than 5,000 apples straight off the truck at receiving stations.

Is your produce business prepared for a cybersecurity attack?
Is your produce business prepared for a cybersecurity attack?

ProduceSupply.org releases cybersecurity guidance for produce suppliers amid growing threats.  

Solinftec unveils new Solix Sprayer robot
Solinftec unveils new Solix Sprayer robot

Ag tech company Solinftec has announced that it is expanding its Solix Ag Robotics offerings.

Strella launches automated quality management platform for retailers
Strella launches automated quality management platform for retailers

Seattle-based Strella Biotechnology has announced the launch of its automated quality management platform for retailers.

Save Foods announces notice of patent allowance in the U.S. for its proprietary blend
Save Foods announces notice of patent allowance in the U.S. for its proprietary blend

Israel-based Save Foods, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has provided the company a Notice of Allowance for its patent application.

Lime handlers see benefits with Hazel technology
Lime handlers see benefits with Hazel technology

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies, Inc. is slowing the yellowing process of limes for lime growers and wholesalers across the U.S., according to a news release.

Square Roots celebrates new indoor farm partnership with Gordon Food Service
Square Roots celebrates new indoor farm partnership with Gordon Food Service

Indoor farming company Square Roots and Gordon Food Service held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Kenosha, Wis., to celebrate their largest indoor farm built to date.

Hazel Tech and Jac. Vandenberg announce a successful Chilean grape trial
Hazel Tech and Jac. Vandenberg announce a successful Chilean grape trial

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies, Inc. has announced a successful trial with New York-based fresh fruit importer Jac. Vandenberg on Chilean table grape imports, post-arrival.

Superior Sales to launch solar system
Superior Sales to launch solar system

Superior Sales, Hudsonville, Mich., plans to switch on its new rooftop solar panel system in early August, said president Randy Vande Guchte.

Applications now open for the $250,000 AgSharks Pitch Competition
Applications now open for the $250,000 AgSharks Pitch Competition

Western Growers and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2022 AgSharks Competition, according to a news release.

New VitaFresh Botanicals Life Select extends the shelf-life of fresh produce, receives organic certification  
New VitaFresh Botanicals Life Select extends the shelf-life of fresh produce, receives organic certification  

Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. has announced the launch of VitaFresh Botanicals Life Select, an organic plant-based coating to keep produce fresh longer and reduce food loss and waste.

Cost of transportation technology solutions coming down with competition
Cost of transportation technology solutions coming down with competition

Increased competition among solution providers is making track and trace technology more accessible for the transportation sector, says Seth Konkle, general manager for the Indianapolis office of the Scotlynn Group.

Technology helps supply chain efficiencies, Hwy Haul leader says
Technology helps supply chain efficiencies, Hwy Haul leader says

Companies that have best survived the surge in consumer demand in the last couple of years have adopted the power of digitalization in their supply chains, says Syed Aman, CEO of Hwy Haul.

Save Foods announces partnership with Moroccan fresh produce exporter
Save Foods announces partnership with Moroccan fresh produce exporter

Save Foods, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Korair, according to a news release.

Research report looks at the growth of food robotics
Research report looks at the growth of food robotics

A new report predicts the global food robotics market will grow at a 12.73% annual rate from 2021 to 2027.

Consentio adds sustainability features to its trading platform
Consentio adds sustainability features to its trading platform

Digital trading platform Consentio has added sustainability data enabling buyers and sellers to initially view carbon dioxide and water consumption data when trading produce, according to a news release.

AgroFresh expands produce freshness solutions in California 
AgroFresh expands produce freshness solutions in California 

Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. has announced the expansion of its SmartFresh Inbox in California with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s approval for a range of new crops. 

California lettuce, leafy greens producers take on tech
California lettuce, leafy greens producers take on tech

While the Golden State already produces the lion's share of the country's lettuce and leafy greens volume, technology is creating new opportunities for growth.

If necessity is the mother of invention, ag-tech will answer the bell, Duflock says
If necessity is the mother of invention, ag-tech will answer the bell, Duflock says

The labor shortage in the fresh produce supply chain is growing worse, and that means Walt Duflock has plenty of work ahead of him.

Verdant Technologies gets EPA label expansion for HarvestHold Fresh
Verdant Technologies gets EPA label expansion for HarvestHold Fresh

The EPA has approved an expanded label for shelf-life extender HarvestHold Fresh from Verdant Technologies.

Western Growers case study looks at cold chain benefits of InteliCool system
Western Growers case study looks at cold chain benefits of InteliCool system

The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology recently assisted Inteligistics, a WGCIT partner, in the evaluation of Inteligistics’ InteliCool system at Fresh Del Monte facilities.

Tomato harvesting robot GRoW wins GreenTech Robot Challenge
Tomato harvesting robot GRoW wins GreenTech Robot Challenge

The professional jury of GreenTech has named the GRoW tomato harvesting robot by Ridder and MetoMotion as the winner of the Robot Challenge, according to a news release.

Revol Greens selects IUNU as advanced technology partner
Revol Greens selects IUNU as advanced technology partner

Greenhouse lettuce grower Revol Greens has chosen IUNU as its technology partner to deliver an integrated approach of artificial intelligence, digital solutions, and automation at scale, according to a news release.

Sakata Seed America announces infrastructure expansion, new headquarters
Sakata Seed America announces infrastructure expansion, new headquarters

Sakata Seed America recently initiated plans to relocate its headquarters from Morgan Hill, Calif., to its 219-acre site in Woodland, Calif., by late 2024, according to a news release.

TOMRA Food brings labor-saving solutions to the apple packinghouse
TOMRA Food brings labor-saving solutions to the apple packinghouse

TOMRA Food is bringing high technology to the apple packinghouse, said Damien Gibson, global category director for apples at TOMRA Food.

Dulcich & Sons leans on Hazel Tech for grape exports
Dulcich & Sons leans on Hazel Tech for grape exports

McFarland, Calif.-based Dulcich & Sons plans to use Hazel Tech for its 2022 grape export program.