Poll: Is direct-to-consumer online marketing bound to grow?
I recently talked with Craig Carlson of Carlson Produce Consulting about possibilities for growers and distributors to sell to consumers online. That interview is embedded here.
In addition, I have a new poll question out this week to the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group.
Here it is:
With just a handful of votes, the results so far:
- Perhaps with premium varieties 36%
- Yes, it is bound to grow 27%
- No, the final mile is too hard 0%
- Leave it to retailers 36%
What’s your vote? I would love to hear all thoughts on this topic.
Here are some other links of interest today:
Potential Impacts of a Pandemic on the US Farm Labor Market
By Diane Charlton and Marcelo Castillo
From the abstract:
We expect that H‐2A recruitment will be vital to sustaining agricultural production. We conclude by discussing potential long‐term impacts of the pandemic on farm labor supply and demand.
Citing Busiest Year Ever, Instacart Spiffs Shopper Community
From pymnts.com, the story said media reports have suggested Instacart has sought to add 300,000 people this year alone.
From the Chicago Tribune,
I just shopped Amazon Fresh in Naperville, with checkout-free Dash Carts and Alexa help. Here’s how it works.
Israeli supermarket chain to feature in-store vertical farms
From Calcalistech.com
From the story:
"Israeli agtech company Vertical Field Ltd. has signed an agreement with Rami Levy, Israel’s largest supermarket chain, to install its ‘vertical farms’ at dozens of locations."
From the Seattle Times:
Seattle expands program to get fresh fruits and vegetables to people in need
A comment from the industry about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours of Service rule:
From the comment:
The undersigned organizations appreciate the opportunity to present this letter in support of the Interim Final Rule on the definition of an “agricultural commodity” as it relates to “Hours of Service of Drivers” regulations and the “Agricultural Exemption” (49 CFR § 395.1(k)).
This group, representing agricultural organizations throughout the United States, is extremely pleased with the clarifications to the definitions of “agricultural commodity” and “non-processed food” released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in this Interim Final Rule.
This group is confident that the clarifications made to the definitions of “agricultural commodity” and “non-processed food” in the Interim Final Rule will help streamline the industry’s understanding of what is covered under the “Agricultural Exemption” from “Hours of Service of Drivers” regulations. Additional benefits to reducing confusion regarding who can claim the “Agricultural Exemption” include creating a fair business environment for all agricultural producers, decreasing losses of quality and overall product shrink, increasing food safety, and reducing the number of trucks on the road by now enabling mixed loads of non-processed food products.
This group also agrees that driver safety is of the utmost importance and believes the established high standard of safety will be maintained under the clarified definitions.
