Fresh Takes On Tech

The IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst is a six-month tech accelerator has brought together startups and global corporations to create innovative solutions for the challenges currently facing the produce industry.  My guests today are current Fresh Field participants, Julie Escobar , Chief Commercial Officer at DiMuto , and her invaluable mentor in the program, Judy Clark , CEO at Fresh Texas .  Traceabi...

In the latest season of Fresh Takes on Tech, we explore companies from International Fresh Produce Association’s Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator and start things off by talking with Elad Mardix , CEO & Co- Founder at Clarifruit & Barbara Guerpillon , Global Head of Ventures at Dole Sunshine Company about how they’re working together for sustainability in produce.   Join us as we discuss:...

In the last 30 years, food production has changed dramatically thanks to technological advances.  Technology has made it so we have a deeper insight into everything from what’s being grown on every square foot of land, to responding quickly to the ever shifting needs of the consumer.  In the last episode of the season, I’m joined by John Purcell , CEO & President at Unfold, as we reflect on th...

The food systems supply chain is a vast network of people and products that is ever evolving.  If you’re working with more than 4,500 supplies, working together to create a more sustainable future that’s good for the planet and for the people, becomes that much more of a challenge.  Walmart depends on each step working together to build the future for their consumers.  In this episode, I’m joined...

Pesticide free, locally grown and certified food safe controlled environmental agriculture.  Is this the future of farming? Should we switch to an efficient method of farming that preserves water?   In this episode, I’m joined by Katie Seawell , Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Bowery Farming, to talk about vertical farming, its efficiency, sustainability and quality.  Join us as we discuss:  The...

Some weeds produce 250,000 viable seeds per plant. When you’re an organic farmer caring for your soil and crops by hand, one weed can cause a huge problem! So why do farmers go organic if it’s so difficult?  In this episode I talked to Russell Hamlin , General Manager at Grimmway Farms, about organic agriculture, the challenges of organic farming and why it’s so important. George Szczepanski , Dir...

Often we don’t see it until it’s been packaged and placed on the shelves, but the fruits and vegetables we consume on a daily basis are grown from an ever-changing set of practices concerning environmental, social and governance factors.  But how is that system sorted, refined and defined? That’s where Shelby comes in.  In this episode of Fresh Takes on Tech, I’m joined by Shelby Layne , Director,...

The organic ecosystem is as varied and complex as the U.S landscape. The industry faces a number of challenges including consumer confusion around what organic means, input and product shortages in organic supply chains, competition from new environmental labels, and the concern that some NOP rules are limiting further growth and innovation that has been achieved in other markets.  In this episode...

Sustainability and its practices are constantly changing. Companies are seeing the value of having a dedicated team member to help navigate and speak to these changes.   In a special episode of Fresh Takes on Tech, I’m joined by Tamara Muruetagoiena , our new ​​Director of Sustainability at International Fresh Produce Association , to talk about her new role at IFPA and sustainability.   Join us a...

It makes sense why we use so much plastic in the food supply chain: It’s versatile, predictable, and sterile. But with so much of it ending up in landfills, does the positive outweigh the negative?  In this episode, I’m joined by William Orts , Research L eader at USDA-ARS , to tal k about solutions to the plastic problem, differences between degradability, and plans for the future.  Join us as we...

What if you could oversee and make adjustments — brushing every bug away or providing nutrients at the exact moment they are needed — at every stage of growth for a single fruit or vegetable?   It may sound like a pipe dream — but robotics and ai are making it a reality.   Gabe Sibley , Lawrence Ibarria , and Curtis Garner , the founders of Verdant Robotics, join the show to share how robotics as...

Companies are fighting to end food waste in more ways than one, from packaging technology to supply chain innovations.  In this episode, I’m joined by Dana Gunders , Executive Director of ReFED , who discusses the scope of the food waste problem and effective solutions, and Aidan Mouat , CEO and C o-Founder of Hazel Technologies, Inc. , who talks about the role of innovation and new technologies i...

Organizations have long paid lip service to sustainability…   But these days, people are paying attention and it’s no longer enough to talk the talk.  If you can’t walk the walk on sustainability, you are putting your business at risk.  In this episode, I’m joined by Joel Makower , Chairman and Co-Founder of GreenBiz Group , who shares why sustainability matters more than ever and how you can star...

Today’s conversation is with Dana Worth, Senior Vice President at Plenty. Prior to Plenty, Dana spent nearly 6 years as VP of Sales and in Business Operations at Impossible Foods. Dana is a wealth of information on commercializing products in mission driven companies in high growth stages. We talk about the push and pull of retailers and consumers for healthy, nutritious food and looking for the “...

This podcast dives deep into genetics and CEA. I talk to Mohammed Oufattole, the newly named Chief Tech Oufattole at Revol Greens. Revol Greens is a CEA lettuce producer with locations in MN, CA, TX and GA. Their growth goal is to supply greens to the continental US consumer within 24 hours of harvest from one of their many locations. Mohammed has a deep background in genetics and brings experienc...

Hear from two professionals at Wells Fargo discuss this season’s topic: CEA.    According to Top 100 Farm Lenders, Wells Fargo has been the nation's leading agricultural lender among commercial banks for 25 consecutive years. They bring farm-to-fork expertise to clients in the agribusiness, food, and beverage industries. I talk to Matt Servatius – Market executive for the Central Region and Karol...

AeroFarms is one of the early, venture funded Indoor Ag companies. In this episode, you will hear the interesting, long version of the origin story of the company. We also discuss the many partnerships and collaborations of AeroFarms and how the culture is built to support that.  Roger Buelow, CTO + Stacey Kimmel, VP of R&D expand on AeroFarms innovations and vast R&D programs along with t...

Sonia Lo is an indoor farmer, a chef, an angel investor and a mother of two who speaks seven languages and holds a third-degree black-belt in Tae-Kwon Do. Sonia has over 32 years of combined agriculture, technology and business experience. In the industry, Sonia was CEO of Crop One Holdings, Inc., a vertical farming company that owns FreshBox Farms and a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering...

This is the first episode in the last season of 2021 and is focused on Controlled Environment Ag. Nate starts off explaining CEA; it’s benefits and challenges. We talk about how Plenty improves food security, safety and availability. Unlike most vertical farms, Plenty grows on vertical towers instead of flatbeds. Nate has a great description on how this came about and the advantages. We also have...

As the federal government invests into carbon sequestration and as entrepreneurs explore "green financing," "negative foods," and carbon credit trading, what are the potential opportunities for producers of specialty crops? Are producers sitting on a gold mine, or is this fool's gold? We will explore these and other questions during this week’s Virtual Town Hall.

We speak with Jack Bobo, food futurist and the author of the book "Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices." Jack talks about how we ended up with giant-sized food portions in the US and what can be done to redesign our food environment to make better food choices for healthier living. We talk about the role of innovation and technology in solving many of our problems and the imperative to get cons...

In this episode, we speak to two executives from Bolthouse Farms about innovation.  The Bolthouse Farms story is a great business case on what innovation and collaboration can bring to a company.  Innovation is woven through everything they do and think about.  There is also an open invitation to reach out to the company with innovative ideas/products/technology at innovation@bolthouse.com  

Hear from Randy Pequignot about his journey as a field supervisor for Del Monte AND data management administrator. He uses software to accumulate Ag data from contract of growers through to the processing of snap beans. Randy gives a great view of what is important to him and how data management has helped his operation and his time management. It is always great to hear the voice of the customer...

The race to develop systems for carbon capture and reduction is on! We dig deeper into the carbon challenge and talk with two innovators who are working with food companies to ensure transparency across the supply chain. The speakers tie together the importance of ESG, effects of climate change, carbon programs and how technology is the “unlock” to solve these issues.

How safe is your information? How do threat actors get into your company and what do you do if it happens? Hear from the experts about the current state of affairs and how you should protect yourself and mitigate risk.