‘Tip of the Iceberg Podcast': Introducing a tech series with ZAG

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 1, which introduces a series on produce technology, co-hosted with ZAG Technical Services. It’s the hidden side of produce, full of challenges and solutions from farm to shelf.

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“Tip of the Iceberg” podcast
(Graphic: Farm Journal)

“You can’t ship with Post-it notes,” said Robert Collings, marketing director of ZAG Technical Services.

This excerpt is part of a “Tip of the Iceberg Podcast” episode marking the start of a produce technology-focused series with ZAG.

The chat begins with our guest co-hosts, Collings and Melinda Goodman, chief storyteller and “agvocate” of FullTilt Marketing. They’ll explain the why behind this tech series and tell you want to expect.

For one thing, when there are supply chain issues, the world doesn’t have to stop, Goodman said. “You should be able to recover every time, quickly,” Collings said.

The growth of agtech and produce retail tech continue to be a rapidly advancing reality of today’s business climate, connecting every corner of business, from field and operations to sales and marketing to retail shelf and dining table.

The growth and resilience of produce enterprise systems are reliant on well-managed and well-protected technology. Collings and Goodman said they’re excited to hear from industry experts in this podcast series, as they share how technology can support growth, and how we can manage the risks that come with it.

Check out our other “Tip of the Iceberg Podcast” episodes:

In this latest episode, there will be much to delve into — and cybersecurity may be the first hot topic.

“Cybersecurity is a known risk,” Goodman said. “Why aren’t we talking about it more? Why are we hiding this really big thing that has the massive potential to disrupt the food supply chain?”

Fear and shame are two possible reasons company leaders hide security breaches and don’t talk about what preventative and reactive measures they take, Collings said.

    ZAG is based in San Jose, Calif., with locations also in San Francisco, South Bay, Bakersfield and Salinas of California, as well as Boise and Meridian in Idaho. The company provides technical services in several industries: agribusiness, fresh produce, defense and security, manufacturing and professional services.

    ZAG handles many areas of technology, including:

    • Managed IT services.
    • Cloud services.
    • Cybersecurity.
    • Disaster preparedness.
    • IT security reviews.
    • Hybrid and remote work.

    Don’t forget: Listen to this episode of the Tip of the Iceberg Podcast.

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