I’ve never been a fan of being told that our software needs to be more ‘simple’. This hasn't been the main goal – we’ve always focused on providing the maximum functionality and then, on working out how to make that both usable and flexible. Einstein has been attributed as saying “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” I’ve always read that as ‘maximize simplicity without compromising performance; make it do what you want and then make it simple’. I think of this in three logical steps: making the system fully functional, ensuring it is completely usable, and then maximizing flexibility.

We all know that skilled labor is becoming more difficult to find and increasingly expensive to keep. This is a particular concern in America where a labor shortage means that packhouses are competing for staff by accommodating, transporting and feeding workers, and yet there’s still no guarantee they’ll show up for work. Labor is one of a packhouse’s largest overheads and leveraging technology can reduce this number and make the packhouse more efficient. Automating tasks with machinery allows you to be more flexible and accurate, positively affecting the bottom line. 

Overview

Titan Farms is the largest peach grower on the east coast of the United States, with more than 5,000 acres of peaches in production. It is a fully integrated grower, packer and shipper of its fresh produce, shipping more than 150 million peaches annually.

PRESS RELEASE – December 7, 2016 Compac is set to retrofit Spectrim™ optical fruit grading platform on competitor machinery following its world-wide product success.

Our industry is currently experiencing a high rate of development and what is available now will soon be yesterday’s technology. Because technology is moving faster than ever, we designed Spectrim as a future-proof platform.

Zespri has taken our humble kiwifruit to new levels. Within 20 years they have grown to become a global fruit marketing powerhouse, competing in the leagues of established brands like Dole, Chiquita and Sunkist and is now, impressively, the number one fruit brand in Spain.

In our recent customer survey on what packhouse managers care about, the most important factor was ‘quality and consistency of packed produce’.

In the current fresh produce market, whether you are competing for growers or retail space; it is essential to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Developing innovative, efficient and cost effective methods of standing out from the crowd is fundamental in staying ahead in this increasingly competitive field.

Having offered premium fruit to consumers for decades, there’s a new strategy underway for those familiar with the notable Auvil Fruit Company; an extension of its Gee Whiz brand. Utilizing this brand push as a navigation tool, Auvil’s Director of Marketing and Brand Development, Lee Arthur, recently told me that the company is looking for more than just a pleasing aesthetic, finding instead an image and mission that will resonate with its consumers.

The fresh produce industry is often associated with digging dirt and watering trees – but these days that is far from being the whole truth - (TWEET THIS). When consumers visit their grocery stores and supermarkets, they expect nothing less than to be able to buy fresh, quality and safe produce that meets the brand promise. To ensure that happens there is a sophisticated supply chain hard at work behind the scenes.