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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 gardening and tips for reducing waste. The podcast emphasizes the importance of advocacy for government engagement in achieving a sustainable and equitable food system for all, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in food justice and sustainability.Key Takeaways Learn about the challenges of increasing access to healthy produce in underserved communities Discover the limitations and potential improvements of programs like SNAP and WIC Explore opportunities for USDA to buy fruits and vegetables directly from growers and make them available to those in need Understand the importance of programs like Double Up Bucks, Brighter Bites, and Common Threads in increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables Find out about the potential of produce prescriptions and renewable energy sources in sustainable last mile distribution Discover efforts to reduce food waste in the distribution of fresh produce Learn about personal experiences with gardening and tips for extending the shelf life of herbs Understand the importance of public-private partnerships and technological solutions in achieving equitable access to fresh, nutritious food Guest Resources “Double Up Bucks, a program that was very important, near and dear to me when I was at USDA. I think it's a unique opportunity to build public private partnerships. Certainly a great example. We just need to continue to be more creative as we think about incentivizing consumption. (Max Teplitski) “The amount of food that's wasted is just staggering. Shocking. On average, a third of all food in the US is lost to wasted. For some fresh produce items, it's up to 70%. And to me this is just terrifying. (Max Teplitski)Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 is both enlightening and inspiring, offering valuable advice on attracting and retaining new talent, promoting from within, and developing clear career paths for employees. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the produce industry and how family businesses can thrive in the face of ongoing change.Key Takeaways The produce industry faces unique challenges in attracting and retaining new talent, particularly from college job fairs where larger companies tend to dominate. Family businesses in the industry must balance the needs of the business with the needs of the family, while also remaining competitive through evolution and employee retention. COVID-19 forced family businessesto make changes that were previously shrugged off, jumpstarting the transition to the next generation. Networking and professional development, particularly through involvement with the Produce Alliance, are critical for success. The industry must work harder to raise brand awareness and attract talent, while also promoting from within and developing clear career paths for employees. The future of the produce industry looks bright, but it will require ongoing efforts to adapt and evolve to remain successful. The family business has a strong culture of hard work and earning one's place, with a focus on leaving the business in a better place than it was found. The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is working to develop programs to attract young people to the industry, as it is not typically seen as an aspirational career path. Memorable Quotes “We spend a lot of time talking about ways that we can increase things like sustainability and how do we be as efficient as possible and how can we use technology as our friend and really work smarter, not always harder.” “When my friends were working at Six Flags, and at Ben and Jerry's and the community summer camps with kids going to the water parks, I was in the warehouse. Going through rotten tomatoes and picking up the trash out of the employee parking lot and doing whatever job anybody else had to do because they wanted me to learn from the ground up.” “When it comes to the family perspective, there's no way until you have kids that you could conceptualize what it would be like to not only be a father or a mother, but also to work with them, to ultimately one day be a boss. But I think it’s incredibly special to work with your family in that way and continue that tradition.”Guest Resources Tom LaGrasso III https://www.lagrasso.com/the-lagrassos LaGrasso Brothers https://facebook.com/LaGrassoBros https://twitter.com/La_Grasso_Bros http://instagram.com/lagrassobros/ Billy Itule https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyitule/ Willie Itule Produce https://ituleproduce.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/willie-itule-produce-inc/ Anthony Sirna https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-sirna-a2740078/ Sirna & Sons Produce https://www.linkedin.com/company/sirna-sons-produce/ https://www.facebook.com/sirnaandsonsproduce/ https://www.instagram.com/sirnaandsons/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association -

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 methods to get its products to market. Listeners will learn about the advantages of indoor vertical farming, how it removes the volatility of produce and encourages consistent year-round production. With a focus on sustainability, Plenty and Local Bounti are leading the way for a more accessible and affordable future for fresh produce.Key Takeaways Discover how Plenty's technologically advanced farm achieves industry-leading yields of up to 350 times more per acre than traditional farms through its patented architecture Learn how Local Bounti's stack and flow technology provides fresher produce to regions that usually don't get to see it, making fresh produce more affordable for consumers Find out how indoor farming removes the volatility of produce, enabling consistent year-round production, and encouraging consumers to make the investment in fresh produce Learn about the advantages of growing produce in locations that are not necessarily arable, and how it allows companies to pick sites based on logistics rather than growing conditions Explore Plenty's commitment to physical access and affordability of their produce, employing at least 30% of employees locally and exclusively serving Compton retailers and food service providers to ensure people in the community have access to their produce Discover how Local Bounti uses a variety of logistics methods, including FOB pickups, deliveries to customer warehouses, and cross-stock partnerships, to get its products to market Learn about the sustainable practices of both companies, with Plenty focusing on sustainable transportation logistics and reducing waste, and Local Bounti using a variety of logistics methods to get its products to market. Shareable Quotes “The main thing we notice is people really call out the texture of our product and the crunch of the product. I think there's a lot of people have experience with indoor greenhouse product and it just doesn't have that same hardiness that I expect from the field. It's really hard to replicate that crunch. This is something that's partially due to our technology and our lighting and how we grow, but it also is driven by less transit and not washing.” (Jill Carlson) “Having these hubs in various places where we produce is going to be really important. And so when we think about innovation and distribution, we're really often thinking about how do we make the transportation logistics as sustainable as possible. So how can we be centrally located to key customers, distribution centers and their routes? We are not constrained where we have to pick land that is arable and perfect growing conditions. We can actually pick our site based on logistics, a few other factors.” (Jill Carlson) “We just launched with another retail partner, and it's been great seeing reviews come in. But what we're hearing a lot is obviously fresh, which is great because that's what we're focusing on, right. Making sure that that eating experience is the best. This is the best salad that we've eaten. We've had that happen a couple of times. And those are always fun to read as well.” (Brian Cook)Guest Resources Jill...

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 food for patient. Learn about the success of Fresh Truck, a mobile market program that converts school buses into grocery stores. The episode highlights the importance of addressing the affordability barrier that prevents many people from accessing healthy food and the potential benefits of addressing food insecurity alongside pharmacological treatments. Tune in to discover how these initiatives are making a difference in communities across the country.Key Takeaways Learn how Katsiroubas Brothers is using new technologies to improve the customer experience and increase efficiency in produce distribution. Discover how About Fresh's Fresh Connect program provides prepaid debit cards and web applications to help health systems cover the cost of food for patients and track shopper-level spend data from all cardholders. Find out how Fresh Truck is bringing healthy food options to underserved communities, showcasing the potential benefits of addressing food insecurity alongside pharmacological treatments. Understand why these programs are important because they address the affordability barrier that prevents many people from accessing healthy food and rely on partnerships with health plan providers and community-based organizations to enroll people into the program. Explore how these programs are scalable and agnostic to retailers, ranging from the biggest box retailers to small independents, and actively seeking potential partners to help grow the program. Key Quotes “I would say now it's official that the world recognizes the last mile as the most important and most challenging mile to travel. So every aspect of that last mile has become really what I spend every day trying to hone our craft and understand and be as efficient, as effective as I can possibly be for my customers.” (Ted Katsiroubas) “We have different business intelligence, some different reporting mechanisms to use, but sometimes it's just classic roll up your sleeves and get on truck, see what it's like to make a delivery, interacting with the customers, to try to make that experience as positive as possible. So it's every day you're figuring it out. (Ted Katsiroubas) “So our mission at About Fresh is to just make sure that everybody has access to the food that they need to be at their best. We're a nonprofit that's based in Boston, deeply integrated into the healthcare ecosystem and focused on serving households that are experiencing food insecurity and diet related health issues.” (Josh Trautwein) The way that we grow and reach more people with Fresh Connect is by connecting with more plans and providers. They're the ones that are initiating the enrollment into Fresh Connect community based organizations as well. So as we are pursuing all this exciting growth across more retailers, we’re really excited about the potential of expanding partnerships in line with that growth. (Josh Trautwein)Guest Resources Ted Katsiroubas https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-katsiroubas-08a00876/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/katsiroubas-produce/ https://katsiroubasproduce.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katsiroubas-Bros-Fruits-Produce/115444835145598 https://twitter.com/KatsiroubasBros https://www.instagram.com/katsiroubasbros/ Josh Trautwein https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshtrautwein/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/fresh-truck/ https://www.aboutfresh.org/Show...

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 relationships, the use of technology and data analytics, and the rise of prepared foods and value-added produce. With expert insights from industry leaders, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the produce industry.Key Takeaways - How Fresh Edge and Pacific Coast Fruit Company have overcome industry changes - Understand the shift from 80-90% art to 65% science and 35% art in the produce industry - How data analytics, automation, and prepared foods are driving efficiency and cost-effectiveness - Why companies are balancing employee needs with profitability - How loyalty and consolidation have become key parts of doing business in the produce industryShareable Quotes “Online shopping that occurs at a grocery store where people shop online and have delivered, the grocery store still needs the product. So we still need to supply from that regard. As a matter of fact, I think our value to our grocery store customers in our retail segment has increased through online shopping because the customer who buys online from a grocery store needs to trust the quality and freshness of that product.” “So if you can imagine if you send a tractor trailer full of produce to a grocery store that costs so much, if you send a straight truck with ten restaurant orders to a neighborhood with restaurants that's going to cost more than your full tractor trailer going on the grocery because you got all these stops, all these cases delivering up and down outside of the truck.” “When you look back, you realize it it's just been an incredible evolution of change for the industry in general. There's been a lot of cleaning out. I would think of the industry. Folks who didn't do their business well or didn't understand how to do their business, unfortunately weren't able to bear the tide and challenges that, of course, COVID, and then the subsequent challenges have presented from suppliers to distributors to end users, everyone has faced that out.” Guest Resources Greg Corsaro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-corsaro-989557141/ FreshEdge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freshedge/ FreshEdge: https://www.freshedgefoods.com/ Jim Reynolds on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-reynolds-60351b4/ Pacific Coast Fruit Company on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-coast-fruit-company/ Pacific Coast Fruit Company: https://www.pcfruit.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram -

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 industry can use these advancements to stay competitive and successful. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind the fresh produce industry.Key Takeaways The fresh produce industry is undergoing major changes due to the pandemic and other factors Innovations in packaging and third-party delivery systems are leading to growth in the category The industry is shifting towards local and regional production with an emphasis on sustainability and reducing food waste Technology is allowing for alignment between sustainability, cost savings, and enhanced quality and shelf life Leaders in the industry must ensure that weak links are strengthened and that sustainability is taken into account Education and collaboration between key players is necessary for the industry's success Guest Resources Produce Alliance: https://www.producealliance.com/ Melissa Ackerman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ackerman-52b1133/ Tyler Deutsch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdeutsch2/ David Kraus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kraus-b4802343/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 companies to create premium products that consumers are willing to pay more for. We delve into emerging technologies such as robotics, traceability systems, and indoor farming systems, as well as the IFPA's Freshfield Catalyst accelerator and its ability to bridge the gap between other markets and the produce industry.Key Takeaways From climate change to food safety, the produce industry faces a range of challenges. But how can we innovate to tackle these issues Vonnie talks to Tim about IFPA's Freshfield Catalyst accelerator program. Get an inside look at how sustainability pressures, consumer preferences and industry trends are driving innovation in the produce industry. Tim and Vonnie cover the topics of differentiation, consumer behavior, indoor farming and traceability. Learn about the importance of decommoditization, food safety, compliance, robotics in agriculture and climate-smart solutions. Guest Resources Future of Ag Website: https://www.futureofag.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 into a comprehensive digital platform, Highland Ag Solutions is virtualizing the business of agriculture. Highland Hub is a powerful digital ecosystem designed for growers, marketers, food safety directors, packing house managers and other agricultural employees. From soil to sale, it provides tools to help you run your business more easily and efficiently, with the goal of enhancing farm operations, easing the regulatory burden and maximizing your finished-good returns. Segment 2 - Cole Powers (IntelliCulture) IntelliCulture's farm management software prevents costly mistakes on the farm. They offer a hardware equipment logger to capture data from farm equipment and broadcast it to their cloud database. They identify inefficiencies, recommend corrections and help advise crucial spending decisions. IntelliCulture offers affordable and manufacturer-independent tool and prioritizing features based on farmer feedback. They approach development from the mindset of a farm manager, by spending time in the field and ultimately putting farmers first.Guest Resources Justin Machell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-machell-23791226/ Highland Ag Solutions - https://www.highlandhasit.com/ Cole Powers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colepowers/ Intelliculture - https://www.intelliculture.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 (CarbonSpace) Carbon footprint monitoring is especially challenging when accounting for emissions from farms, fields, or forests. Companies in agriculture, food processing, forestry, and wood products lack instruments to measure the footprint of their operations and supply chains. CarbonSpaceTech is developing a carbon footprint monitoring platform to bring a new level of transparency to these organizations. Our proprietary AI technology core is processing several layers of satellite, sensor, and inventory data, which yields high spatial resolution and near real-time analytics. It was elegantly designed to create an ultimate self-onboarding tool for monitoring emissions from different types of lands. The CarbonSpace platform provides actionable insights about farm, field, and forest emissions to facilitate climate-responsible decisions and to unleash the carbon offset potential of our customers. Segment 2 - Kaitlin Mercier (Routeique) Routeique gives fast-moving consumer goods businesses unprecedented supply chain insight, foresight and oversight. In partnership with them they use this new transparency to make their enterprises more efficient, competitive, sustainable, responsive, and profitable than ever before. Segment 3 - Greg Gatzke (ZAG Technical Services) ZAG is the #1 IT services provider to Western Agribusinesses. With knowledge and experience gained from decades in the industry, they understand the 24/7/365 nature of business. The biggest names in agriculture and fresh produce trust ZAG to deliver technology solutions that protect their business, improve profit margins, and enable new capabilities.Guest Resources Lydia Ashburn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-ashburn-07a0a373/ CarbonSpace - https://carbonspace.tech/ Kaitlin Mercier - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-mercier-4357b617/ Routique - https://routeique.com/ Greg Gatzke - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggatzke/ ZAG Technical Services - https://www.zagtech.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 that support the modernization of the fresh produce supply chain. Segment 1 - Mike Meinhardt (Provision Analytics) Provision makes cloud software to streamline food safety and QA. Clients can build simple digital templates that expedite recordkeeping, with automatic schedules, rules, and alerts that increase compliance. All food safety and quality data is centralized in one hub with automatic history and customizable reporting. This makes it faster to complete audits, and easier to analyze processes. Segment 2 - Karen Long (iFoodDS) iFoodDS is a leading provider of food supply chain safety, traceability and quality solutions for farmers, harvesters, shippers, packers, processors, distributors, retailers and foodservice. iFoodDS HarvestMark Traceability and iFoodDS' other cloud-based offerings provide advanced analytics and insights for safety, regulatory compliance and process improvements. Segment 3 - Diane Wetherington (iDecisionSciences) Since 2009 IDS has worked in the specialty crop industry collecting and managing confidential producer, processing, packinghouse and handler data and providing quantitative analysis and scientific support on behalf of the fresh produce industry.Guest Resources Provision Analytics - https://www.provision.io/ Mike Meinhardt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-meinhardt-1518248/ Karen Long - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlongifood/ iFoodDS - https://www.ifoodds.com/ Diane Wetherington - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-wetherington-32a57711/ iDecisionSciences - https://www.idecisionsciences.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

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 packaging industries Segment 1 - Kaitlin Mogentale (Founder) of Pulp Pantry Pulp Pantry is dedicated to transforming forgotten, nutrient-rich ingredients such as high fiber juice pulp into delicious, healthy hand-made snacks that make it easy to get your daily servings of fruit, vegetables and fiber anytime, anywhere. They specialize in delicious paleo, vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free foods. Their first product to market is a crunchy grain-free granola that will change the way America eats breakfast - packed with flavor, fiber and wholesome fruits and vegetables. Segment 2 - Charles Swartz (Product Manager) of Compact Membrane Systems CMS creates technology to capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avert global warming, and transform industry into a long-term sustainable enterprise. One membrane system at a time. Optiperm™ produce is an ethylene-selective membrane for extending the shelf life of post harvest produce. This membrane can be used anywhere produce is stored to remove ethylene and slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables. A membrane patch or unit can be added to existing storage containers or modified atmosphere environments as a modular and cost effective ethylene removal solution. Segment 3 - Jeff Beegle (Chief Science Officer, Co-Founder) of mobius Mobius is creating a world where There’s Wonder in Waste. They are a mission-driven company focused on eliminating waste by leveraging industrial organic waste streams from agriculture, forestry, paper and biofuel & biorefining industries to create new materials and chemicals. Their first product is a proprietary, biodegradable polymer made from lignin, a natural material found in all grasses and trees that is produced as waste at a rate of over 50 million tons each year by the paper and biofuel industries. With this biopolymer, they are creating a bio-based, biodegradable plastic pellets for applications in horticulture, agriculture, food service packaging, and beyond.Guest Resources Kaitlin Mogentale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinmogentale/ Pulp Pantry - https://pulppantry.com/ Mobius - https://www.mobius.co/ Jeff Beegle - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieutbeard/ Charles Swartz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-swartz-a0b9b855/ Compact Membrane Systems - https://compactmembrane.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook -

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 packaging industries Segment 1 - Kaitlin Mogentale (Founder) of Pulp Pantry Pulp Pantry is dedicated to transforming forgotten, nutrient-rich ingredients such as high fiber juice pulp into delicious, healthy hand-made snacks that make it easy to get your daily servings of fruit, vegetables and fiber anytime, anywhere. They specialize in delicious paleo, vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free foods. Their first product to market is a crunchy grain-free granola that will change the way America eats breakfast - packed with flavor, fiber and wholesome fruits and vegetables. Segment 2 - Charles Swartz (Product Manager) of Compact Membrane Systems CMS creates technology to capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avert global warming, and transform industry into a long-term sustainable enterprise. One membrane system at a time. Optiperm™ produce is an ethylene-selective membrane for extending the shelf life of post harvest produce. This membrane can be used anywhere produce is stored to remove ethylene and slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables. A membrane patch or unit can be added to existing storage containers or modified atmosphere environments as a modular and cost effective ethylene removal solution. Segment 3 - Jeff Beegle (Chief Science Officer, Co-Founder) of mobius Mobius is creating a world where There’s Wonder in Waste. They are a mission-driven company focused on eliminating waste by leveraging industrial organic waste streams from agriculture, forestry, paper and biofuel & biorefining industries to create new materials and chemicals. Their first product is a proprietary, biodegradable polymer made from lignin, a natural material found in all grasses and trees that is produced as waste at a rate of over 50 million tons each year by the paper and biofuel industries. With this biopolymer, they are creating a bio-based, biodegradable plastic pellets for applications in horticulture, agriculture, food service packaging, and beyond.Guest Resources Kaitlin Mogentale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinmogentale/ Pulp Pantry - https://pulppantry.com/ Mobius - https://www.mobius.co/ Jeff Beegle - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieutbeard/ Charles Swartz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-swartz-a0b9b855/ Compact Membrane Systems - https://compactmembrane.com/Show Links International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/ Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/ Facebook -

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.  Growing customer demand for locally grown produce  Sustainability in the food system. The challenges and possibilities of controlled environment farming.  Using Data to inform growing operations.  Segment 1 - Craig Hurlbert (CEO) and Dave Vosburg (Chief Innovation Officer) of Local Bounti “Controlled environment food growing is very capital intensive, so this model will require management to have a strong understanding of running capital intensive operations.’ - Craig Local Bounti is an indoor farming company with an aggressive growth plan over the next five years to deliver delicious, great texture, flavorful products to their customers all across the United States, locally grown.  The demand for locally grown produce is there, the logistics and infrastructure is evolving. People want convenience, less shelf time, flavor, and low price points. Salad kits are a good example of a winning product right now.  Local Bounti is expanding to Texas and Oregon and looking into acquiring other facilities as well.  Segment 2 - John Purcell (Chief Strategy Officer) of Unfold “Controlled environment [farming] is a confluence of amazing technologies; I like to describe it as Silicon Valley meets Salinas Valley.” — John  According to John, this industry is a huge mashup of many sectors in tech, “a confluence of technologies.” People are drawn to this work because they want to use their skills on something that matters. The reason they get attracted to this is because of the work done producing food in a way better for the planet.  It's new in some ways, but in some ways, it's not. There's a cross fertilization of ideas and technologies from outdoor crop growing and indoor crop growing happening all the time these days. John suggests we look at the technologies that are out there, and let's figure out how to apply them. Segment 3 - Ali Daniali (CEO/Founder) of HRVSTS “We've flipped the equation. For growers, it's actually a push versus pull type of equation, where the buyer is actually telling the grower what to grow” — Ali HRVSTS grows and sells specialty produce to food service companies. Using data they can get specialty leafy greens from seed to customer in 7 weeks or less, depending on the crop.   They use data to eliminate the inefficiencies in the system and also contract with small growers and help new farmers get online quickly. Guest Resources Local Bounti - https://localbounti.com/ Craig Hurlbert - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craighurlbert/ David Vosburg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdavidvosburg/ Unfold - https://unfold.ag/ John Purcell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jppurcell/ HRVSTS - https://hrvsts.com/ Ali Daniali -

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, Chief Commercial Office at Bowery Farming. Join us as we discuss: How technology can impact improving accessibility and lifespan of fresh produce Helping set up for the next wave of entrepreneurs in the health and food industry Improving access to produce to all communities How younger generations are creating higher demand for fresh produce

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.  Join us as we discuss: The health benefits of the purple tomato compared to others The USDA’s new rules and regulations for biotechnology growing The changing the conversation on GMOs and their health benefits  Expanding with more produce after the purple tomato

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 to break down barriers on access to fruits and vegetables  Availability perspective vs cost perspective when it comes to fresh produce   How Pairwise’s innovation will help address climate change  Consumer transparency of new growing techniques 

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 fruits and vegetables. Join us as we discuss: The Eat Well program in North Carolina and expanding it nationally  Creating access to both urban and rural communities  The White House Conference on Hunger 

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 editing to our food Studying plant genes to improve crop growth  Boyce Thompson Institute’s physalis improvement project  Understanding CRISPR to fast track domestication of crops and helping combat climate change

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 consume! Join us as we connect with foodservice administrators from California’s second-largest school district, and discover how they are prioritizing fresh produce and nutrition education as part of the thousands of meals they serve each day.  Whether it’s school-site gardens, salad bars, farmer trading cards, virtual farm tours or in-class nutrition education, the San Diego Unified School District is leading the way, when it comes to promoting fresh fruit and veggies. Join us as we discuss: School meals with updated nutrition standards that require fruits and veggies Farm to School programming in the San Diego Unified School District Creating a hands-on experience for students with school gardens Attending the IFPA Foodservice Conference with other K-12 school foodservice leaders

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 nature throws at them.  Join us as we discuss: The early stages of the vertical farming process Marketing Netled to prospective growers and U.S. expansion  Developing new technologies in farming Making vertical farming commercially viable