Fresh Produce Technology
Technology drives growth and efficiency in the fresh produce industry by optimizing the entire supply chain. Robotics and autonomous harvesters help growers overcome labor shortages, while digital tools and IoT sensors enhance food safety through real-time traceability. AI-driven analytics extend shelf life and minimize waste by maintaining optimal environments for perishable goods. Explore how these innovations are transforming the fresh produce industry for a more sustainable future.
A recent GBAO Strategies poll revealed 68% of Marylanders support a ban on electronic shelf labels, with roughly seven in 10 voters expressing concern the technology will lead to higher grocery prices and predatory surveillance pricing.
Retailers and tech analysts argue electronic shelf labels are a vital response to labor shortages and inventory waste, while labor advocates and lawmakers warn the technology acts as a vital component for predatory surveillance pricing and the elimination of middle-class grocery jobs.
CEO and founder Danny Bernstein discusses the launch of the Salinas, Calif., innovation hub and why the future of specialty crops depends on niche solutions and a boots-on-the-ground work ethic.
AmplifiedAg CEO David Flynn is leveraging his military-honed mission of food security to provide incarcerated individuals with nutritious foods and a tangible pathway to decrease recidivism through high-demand ag-tech careers.
With AWG’s rollout of SmartMeals, Harps Food Stores is also deploying the AI-powered personal assistant across 150-plus locations to provide customers with instant, budget-friendly meal plans integrated directly with real-time store inventory.
With labor costs reaching up to 50% of production and a massive gap in infrastructure, the CEO explains how robotics and AI are transforming North American mushroom farming into a 24/7 high-tech operation.
New HarvestReplay service uses a decade of labor data and AI audio briefings to help growers optimize daily field decisions and capture seven-figure savings.
Associated Wholesale Grocers says its Breez AI-powered shopping assistant provides a high-tech tool to increase basket sizes and compete with national retail giants through personalized, budget-conscious meal-planning.
The firm’s latest expansion into robotic palletizing helps produce facilities address labor gaps and increase throughput.
From optical gas analyzers to predictive data modeling, new ripening technologies are adding shelf life and reducing shrink for major retailers.
The British Columbia-based greenhouse’s pilot of a decision-support system combines biological sensors and machine learning to develop a fully autonomous and climate-resilient growing system.
The Berkeley, Calif.-based company has been honored for its 100% natural coating that doubles the shelf life of fresh produce and reduces retail waste by up to 30%.
Cart Assistant instantly transforms photos of handwritten lists or screenshots of recipes into a fully populated digital grocery basket, specifically optimized for store availability and a shopper’s favorites.
The rollout includes nearly 200 stores in California and Nevada, while Upside says its national platform reaches more than 35 million consumers.
Stemilt Growers Research and Development Director Rob Blakey explains why modern apple, cherry and pear varieties must be as efficient in the pack shed as they are flavorful for the consumer.
Competition was fierce at Fruit Logistica 2026 last week, where 10 companies competed for the coveted Innovation Awards in the fresh produce and technology categories.
As generative AI continues to reshape how information is created, distributed and consumed, protecting your personal and business brand reputation has never been more important, says Pete Wilson, partner, head of digital reputation EMEA FleishmanHillard.
Stater Bros. Markets is expanding its partnership with Afresh to link store-level demand directly to warehouse buying, a move Afresh CEO Matt Schwartz explains will replace manual guesswork with a unified AI “brain” built specifically for the volatility of fresh food.
Yield Energy says its Yield Edge DERMS can earn growers money through utility incentive programs or save them on energy bills.
The Resource Innovation Institute explored the possibility of colocating data centers with large greenhouses to deal with waste heat, supply food and provide jobs in the U.S.
From the snack aisle to the produce section, the newest generation of autonomous intelligence offers retailers 24/7 visibility and precision at enterprise scale.
Updates to InteliCool include using AI and machine learning to passively track and control temperatures in tunnels, tubes or MAC systems with efficiency gains of up to 33%.
As everything is getting increasingly more data-driven and data-dependent, there are some data-specific questions growers should ask before investing.
Join us for this special episode of The Packer Podcast, sharing some of the most interesting and entertaining answers from our “fresh take” segment.
As H-2A costs climb toward $30 an hour, Western Growers’ Walt Duflock warns that half of California’s farmers could disappear by 2052 without a revolution in harvest tech.
The newly launched hub is a statewide collaboration to strengthen Arizona’s $30 billion agriculture industry through resilient and sustainable farming practices.
Once you’ve identified a likely piece of new ag tech you want to invest in, there are some questions you should ask to dig into the details first.
The founder and CEO of Innov8.ag offers insights to help growers overcome agriculture’s complexities, boost tech adoption and use real-time, actionable data for improved operations and future readiness.
Ryp Labs CEO explains how natural, easy-to-integrate technology is extending produce shelf life and offering significant returns across the supply chain.
The precision irrigation system has been recognized for helping growers close the execution gap and optimize water use across diverse specialty crops.