The fresh produce industry moves quickly, and fruits and vegetables have to move from fields to grocery store shelves while maintaining the peak of freshness, taste and quality.
As companies seek enterprise resource planning systems that are intuitive, efficient and capable of meeting the industry’s demands, Minnesota-based carrot producer Fresha recently shared its journey to find an ideal fit.
Fresha, which launched in 2019, has grown its footprint from 1,000 acres in Minnesota to an additional location in Georgia to meet the demand for year-round grown carrots, according to a news release. When Drew Schmidgall joined the Fresha team in 2023 as a controller, his passion for efficient processes and helping others make their lives easier led the team to look for a new ERP system, the company said.
The Fresha team traveled to the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show to interview ERP software companies.
“We wanted to go to a system where we weren’t the guinea pig We needed to knock out our pain points in the first round,” Schmidgall said. “We had our non-negotiables and needed to make sure it worked.”
Schmidgall said Fusionware checked all those boxes.
Fusionware is an operations platform built for growers, packers, processors and shippers. It prioritizes simplifying workflows and creating efficiencies across the supply chain, according to the release. With automated software that consolidates data and improves inventory management, companies like Fresha have chosen Fusionware to help them, the company said.
“Our ERP system replaces outdated systems and overly complex solutions by providing a platform that is as intuitive as it is powerful,” said Fusionware CEO Creg Fielding. “We help produce companies like Fresha streamline their operations so they can focus on delivering fresh, quality products to market.”
Fresha said it immediately recognized how inventory management would change with Fusionware. The company said it could make sales decisions quickly, manage inventory accurately and use scheduled dock times to move loads quickly and efficiently.
“Our inventory was 100% accurate, which was just impressive,” Schmidgall said.
The Fusionware team helped Fresha implement its program, which was completed in three months and included training the staff.
“The system has allowed us to be proactive,” Schmidgall said. “We can adapt and forecast potential interruptions before they become a major issue.”
