Fresh Takes On Tech

Joining the show today is Jared Cannon, the visionary CEO of Simply Good Jars, a company founded on the belief that food can be a catalyst for global change. Jared shares the journey of introducing salads to a broader audience while enhancing access to healthy food through portability, convenience, and value. Discover how Simply Good Jars is committed to sustainability and recycling as they scale...

Today we are talking about PLU stickers—those tiny, ubiquitous labels on our fruits and vegetables. For those in the produce industry, they are well-known, but for others, PLU stickers ensure pricing accuracy for loose produce in supermarkets. Each sticker boasts a Price Look Up (PLU) code, a cashier's tool for identifying products quickly. Recently, PLU stickers have taken the spotlight as certai...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of a six-part season that sheds light on the crucial intersection of packaging practices within the produce industry and the pressing imperative for sustainability. Join us on this journey as we navigate the intricate balance between delivering high-quality, pathogen-free products and minimizing the environmental impact caused by packaging waste. In this season, we...

In this episode we speak with Max Teplitski and Mollie Van Lieu and discuss the challenges of increasing access to healthy produce in underserved communities. They explore the role of programs like SNAP, WIC, and produce prescriptions, as well as the need for public-private partnerships and technological solutions to address food waste. The conversation also includes personal experiences with gard...

In this episode, three leaders from multigenerational family businesses in the produce industry share their experiences and insights on how they have maintained and evolved their businesses in the face of unique challenges. They talk about the importance of keeping up with industry trends like sustainability and technology, while balancing the needs of the business and the family. The conversation...

In this podcast episode, Jill Carlson from Plenty and Brian Cook from Local Bounti share their innovative approaches to indoor vertical farming. They discuss the benefits of year-round production and the ability to grow in locations that are not typically arable. The companies are committed to sustainability, with Plenty focused on reducing waste and Local Bounti using a variety of logistics metho...

This episode brings together experts to discuss their innovative solutions to address food insecurity and improve access to fresh, healthy food for those in need. You’ll learn about Katsiroubas Brothers' use of technology to increase efficiency in produce distribution, and how About Fresh's Fresh Connect program provides prepaid debit cards and mobile apps to help health systems cover the cost of...

In this episode dives we dive deep into the ever-evolving produce industry, uncovering the secrets to success of two leading companies and the innovative trends driving the future of fresh food. We explore the challenges of labor constraints and inflation, and how companies like Fresh Edge and Pacific Coast Fruit Company have adapted to stay ahead. We discuss the importance of customer relationshi...

Host Vonnie Estes speaks with the team at Produce Alliance and dives deep into the fast-paced and ever-changing world of the fresh produce industry. From innovations in packaging to third-party delivery services, the team explores the impact of the pandemic and other factors on the industry. They also discuss how technology has enabled the movement towards more sustainable practices and how the in...

In this bonus episode we share Vonnie Estes appearance on the Future of Agriculture podcast, hosted by Tim Hammerich. We explore the challenges facing the produce industry, including climate change, labor shortages, and changing consumer preferences, and how innovation and technology can address these issues. We discuss the importance of understanding consumer needs and the opportunities for compa...

We are talking with Justin Machell (CEO, Highland Ag Solutions) & Cole Powers (Co-Founder, IntelliCulture) Join us as we discuss: Best practices for producers to manage their equipment lifecycle How to prevent pest outbreaks, and increase labor efficiency The benefits of automating the machine management process Segment 1 - Justin Machell (Highland Ag Solutions ) By converting the modern farm...

We are talking with Lydia Ashburn (Growth Marketing, CarbonSpace), Kaitlin Mercier (VP of Partnerships, Routeique) Greg Gatzke (President, ZAGtech) Join us as we discuss: Developing best-in-class standards for carbon monitoring Understanding how to improve and enhance back-office processes and automation The importance of cyber-security and how to protect your company Segment 1 - Lydia Ashburn (Ca...

We are talking with Mike Meinhardt (EVP of Sales, Provision Analytics), Karen Long (VP of Sales, iFoodDS), and Diane Wetherington (Founder & CEO, iDecisionSciences) Join us as we discuss: Efforts being made to digitize all touch points in the produce supply chan cycle Updates on new initiatives to improve safety and traceability  Work being done to create innovative technology solutions t...

We are talking with Kaitlin Mogentale of Pulp Pantry, Charles Swartz of Compact Membrane Systems and Jeff Beegle of mobius. Join us as we discuss: Opportunities for repurposing fruit and vegetable pulp into nutrient rich foods Technology advancements to help fruits and vegetables stay fresher, longer New uses for produce waste to be repurposed in the horticulture, agriculture, and food service pac...

Live from IFPA’s Global Show: Technology’s Critical Role in Local Produce and Controlled Environment Farming A very special live podcast from IFPA’s 2022 Floral and Produce show!  We are talking with Craig Hurlbert and Dave Vosburg of Local Bounti, John Purcell of Unfold, and Ali Daniali of HRVSTS. Join us as we discuss: Networking at a global level at the IFPA’s Floral and Produce Show.&nbsp...

A very special live podcast from IFPA’s 2022 Floral and Produce show! We close out our season on nutrition with a panel of experts with Vonnie on the lasting impact technology has made and continues to grow on for the farming and fresh produce industries. Our panel includes Haven Baker , CBO at Pairwise , Jenny Du , Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Apeel Sciences and Katie Seawell ,...

The market for fresh and delicious produce is continuing to expand thanks to innovations in biotechnology.  The latest in produce expansion is the purple tomato!  Thanks to Nathan Pumplin , President and CEO at Norfolk Health Produce , the purple tomatoes' nutritious qualities will be reaching markets as early as 2023 and it’s all thanks to the innovation in biotechnology for growing produce.  Joi...

The limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables is the biggest reason consumers aren’t getting their recommended daily requirements of produce.  With the help of Tom Adams , CEO at Pairwise , they are innovating through technological advances in the farming and growing industries to help expand and increase access to fresh produce for everyday consumers.  Join us as we discuss: Using technology...

From government programs to private sector initiatives, giving people access to options for healthy food choices is a big challenge.  Thanks to our guest Sam Hoeffler , Program Manager at Reinvestment Partners , the Eat Well program helps families throughout North Carolina not just by giving access to purchase healthy food choices but also provides funding to impoverished communities to purchase f...

Some of the most nutritious food on Earth is unfortunately some of the toughest produce to grow.   With the help of Joyce Van Eck , Associate Professor at Boyce Thompson Institute , the practice of gene editing in crops is better understood by farmers and other growers to increase production and access to highly nutritious crops.   Join us as we discuss: Plant biotechnology and bringing gene editi...

Students are heading back to school, but don’t forget about one of the most important parts of the day - - lunch! Thanks to Fred Espinosa , Director of Food and Nutrition for the San Diego Unified School District and Janelle Manzano , Specialist for the Farm to School Program, students are getting access and education to the “full plate” of their lunches and even growing their own produce to consu...

Growing crops at full capacity is one of the many extreme challenges for farmers. But there are innovations that help them create new techniques to meet these challenges head on — like vertical farming.  With the help of Netled and Kasey Snyder , Sales Operations Manager, they are expanding the innovation of vertical farming to help farmers grow their crops at a higher capacity in any condition na...

The uncertainty of farming conditions is one of the toughest challenges the produce industry faces.  Thanks to Founder and CEO Ros Harvey of The Yield , their mission is to help create a digital playbook based on valuable data from farmers that will help protect their produce. Join us as we discuss: Establishing digital playbooks to improve growing and supply chain conditions Solving uncertainty i...

Nexus Robotics is one of this year’s winners in IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst technology accelerator. It was founded in 2017 by engineering students from Halifax who wanted to disrupt and improve traditional farming practices.  They’re building innovative robotic tools that will free growers from backbreaking repetitive tasks — and encourage Canada’s agriculture industry to become more sustainable. ...

With the current supply chain issues, enjoying fresh and nutritious produce is more costly and difficult than ever before.  Consumers demand consistency, which hasn’t been possible with traditional methods. But technology is enabling producers to deliver great value and the best possible eating experience. Kaitlin Fitzgerald is the VP of Sustainability at one of IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst winners...