Fresh Takes On Tech

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 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 

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 

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

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

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

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

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. 

Teric Greenan is the COO, and his city-born perspective helps him ideate incisive solutions to agricultural issues. 

Luc Labbe, CEO at Nexus, brings a wealth of experience and in-depth agronomic knowledge.

Join us as we discuss:

• How robotic tech will help solve the agricultural labor shortage and lower costs

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, Sound Agriculture. They’re passionate about building a better and more sustainable food system. 

Dorn Wenninger, Senior VP Produce at UNFI, is her mentor in our program and an industry expert with over 30 years of experience in the field. 

Join us as we discuss:

• The qualities buyers expect from their produce and how tech makes this possible