Fresh Takes On Tech

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...

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...