ProducePay’s Post

Growing from seed will become the standard in the #strawberry sector within 5 years. Attached article from Horti.Daily gives food for thought for this transition. #innovation #limgroup #transition #seedsforthefuture https://lnkd.in/gR-kWVbD

CEA is a HOT topic on many fronts.....call it Controlled Environment Agriculture or greenhouse grown (the OG), investment is staggering, growth can be exponential if managed properly, but in reality, the landscape is evolving rapidly and tough to keep up with. Even though the last year was challenging for many, our path forward at Pure Flavor® Farms saw significant acquisitions & expansions to fuel our growth. Top it off with international product awards for flavor and marketing campaign awards for communication strategies, we are certainly heading in the right direction. Our future is fresh friendly. #TeamPure “According to the FMI- The Food Industry Association 'Power of Produce' report, more than 3 in 10 shoppers believe they will purchase more value-added produce in the next year".... there is an opportunity here to increase that number with products that are grown year-round, sustainably. One-third also said that providing more fruit and vegetable snacking items is a good way retailers can help consumers increase fresh consumption. Our own research conducted during our #LoveForFresh campaign in spring 2023 supports this. Thank you to Christina Herrick for the opportunity to contribute to the article. Read the full article in The Packer - https://lnkd.in/gwuExzqv

After 2.5 years as CEO at Sustain-A-Grain, I’ve made the difficult decision to look for more stable work as my family has recently grown. I’ll continue as an advisor and Sustain-A-Grain will keep on trucking. There hadn’t been a new grain in approximately 10 millennia. And then Kernza came along. I’m proud of my small part in Kernza's story and of the work I’ve done to advance the promise of perennial grain agriculture. Perennial grains are an important piece of the regenerative agriculture solutions that we need for the health of our planet. Here are some highlights that make me optimistic: 1. Breweries are leading the way: I grew our relationships with breweries from three to dozens and they continue to be the frontrunners in adopting Kernza more consistently in their recipes. 🍺 2. We created new products: Mark my words, the work I did with Kansas State University, copackers, and food brands to develop Kernza flakes and set the standard for Kernza flour will soon show up in yummy breakfast cereals, snacks, and granola bars. 🍪 3. Growers get it and CPGs are catching on: Over my time at Sustain-A-Grain, the farmer waitlist grew from single digits to a steady weekly cadence of signups and the number of food companies with Kernza in their test kitchens multiplied by +100x. 🚜 As I start the next chapter, here are three ways I can add value to YOUR work: 1.  I know farms/farmers.  I grew up on the family farm and have spent years working on farms in the US, Europe, and the Middle East; I have designed and made investments in agribusinesses in East Africa and Eastern Europe; and I have worked to improve on-farm production and develop new markets. I have experience ranging from smallholder farming systems to large scale farms and sizes in between. 2. The intersection of business and impact is where I’m most comfortable. Whether it is shifting American grower practices toward regenerative agriculture or using blended finance to improve farmer profitability in Crimea, I understand how to engage communities, pull in stakeholders, and design impactful interventions with real people’s livelihoods at the center. 3. I don't mind if there's no playbook.  I helped build the largest Kernza perennial grain company, design novel Kernza products, and tell the story of why perennial grains are the future of agriculture. I like building from 0 to 1. The best 3 ways you can help me: 1. Hire me for a full-time role if you are a food or ag company creating positive climate impact and looking to scale faster / bigger / smarter. 2. Introduce me to smart people working at the intersection of climate, agriculture, and food. (I’m particularly excited to get together in person at the Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum later this month.) 3. Share this post, especially with leaders in your network who may be looking for someone to help them achieve social and environmental impact. With gratitude, Peter

This will be informative. Did you know the most profitable vegetable growers are those with the highest input costs? Tune into this webinar to hear more about the learnings from Year 1..

(USA 15.08.23) STRAWBERRIES: Oishii’s newest executive says she’s ‘never been more confident about the future of vertical farming’. The Omakase berry originally launched in retail at $5 per berry; the variety now sells for $2.50 each. The Koyo berry is selling for $15 for a tray of six berries currently. ----- [AG: In agriculture, the age-old wisdom of valuing quality over quantity remains steadfast, and this maxim gains new significance in the realm of fresh produce cultivation. The potential to revolutionize Australian growers' prospects lies in the appeal of high-quality products. While producing such calibre goods incurs higher costs, profitability hinges on discerning consumers willing to pay a premium. Yet, this hinges on our Australian post-farm gate operators and retailers embracing growers' vision rather than exploiting them. Australian fresh produce cultivators increasingly recognize prioritizing quality yields economic gains. As consumers value nutritional content and eco-friendliness, demand for premium, fresh, and sustainable produce rises. Investment in meticulously grown products fosters consumer trust and ecological consciousness. This quality-focused shift offers Australian growers a chance to prosper. Distinguishing themselves from mass-produced alternatives, superior products command higher prices, offsetting costs and boosting profits. Consistently delivering excellence cultivates customer loyalty, bolstering long-term success. Key to this equation are our Australian post-farm gate operators' and retailers’ roles. It is very common these intermediaries undermine growers by extracting excessive profits, eroding incentives for top-tier cultivation. To genuinely promote quality cultivation, a fair ecosystem is essential—where our post farm gate operators value high-quality produce and for which our Australian growers are paid fair, sustainable and profitable prices. For the Australian fresh produce industry to thrive, balance is vital. Post farm gate operators must recognize the long-term damage of pressuring growers for short-term gains, undermining product development, quality and reputation. Collaborative partnerships honouring growers' commitment to quality benefit all post-farm gate participants. This ensures value to end consumers without exploiting producers. In summary, elevating quality over quantity in Australian fresh produce offers promise. Aligning with discerning consumer preferences can lead growers to profitable niches. Yet, success depends on reshaping grower - post farm gate operator relations. Through fair partnerships rooted in quality commitment and equitable profit distribution, the industry can reap rewards from superior cultivation practices.] ----- https://lnkd.in/gU2bheux

UPSIDE Foods aims to break ground on a commercial-scale cultivated meat facility in Glenview, Illinois, later this year that will become operational in 2025. Supported by a $140m investment from UPSIDE Foods — which has raised $608m since it was founded in late 2015 — the site will have an initial capacity of millions of pounds of meat and the potential to expand to over 30 million pounds. The new plant in Glenview — dubbed ‘Rubicon’ — will have a range of bioreactors going up to 100,000-liters, says COO Amy Chen. “The design basis for Rubicon when you think about the scale which we’re talking about, the unit economics look attractive. But a lot still has to happen, right? The supply chain has to be built around it, the cells need to be very productive, we need to have the media components and the ecosystem of suppliers to be able to scale not only to the 1,000s of pounds but to tens of millions of pounds, so a lot of the work that’s being done in the background is around building that ecosystem.” AgFunder #cultivatedmeat #foodtech #alternativeproteins

What is the added value of CEA-grown produce in retail? "Leafy greens are not a niche segment anymore as retailers have been carrying more CEA-grown products in their stores," That's mainly because of the consistency, quality, and year-round supply indoor farmers can provide to retail. "On top of that, we've seen a strong separation between operators that have stronger balance sheets and PNLs to be in it for the long term." It's about producing quality at the right price point, effectively," Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic, a US vertical farming company, points out. Currently, snacking tomatoes is the fastest-growing category across indoor-grown products in retail. https://buff.ly/3x4ibxV

ProducePay CEO Pat McCullough articulately explains the complexities of the produce sector, and how tech, people and services can create a more predictable and sustainable sector. An easy way of understanding: Food and economic waste results from volatility. Volatility can be addressed by making commerce more predictable. #agtech #climatetech #foodwaste

What do farmers and bakers have in common ? They both work with nature. Thanks to farmers, bakers have been making breads to feed more than 250 generations of consumers. #thefutureofbreadliesinitspast : Sapore Lavida is a first and humble step showing the possibilities of reconnecting people within the food supply chain to produce better bread for the future. What did I learn working on this project - Being the first one is not easy, one step at a time we will get there - Believe in people all together we can make the difference - Bakers and farmers are entrepreneurs and have this infinite power (just like nature) to reinvent themselves at every season. #sourdough #regenerativeagricutlure #bakers Puratos CultivAé - Coopérative agroécologique Farm For Good Percy Mc Cord Jan Willem Groen Jan Hermans Laurence Herbert Bernard Genot Diane Ninane Karl De Smedt and all our colleagues from Saint-Vith factory !

🌾 Unlocking Agricultural Potential: Join Fruitage Foods and Revolutionize Your Farming Experience! 🚜💻 I'm thrilled to introduce you to Fruitage Foods, a game-changing platform that's set to transform the way farmers connect with consumers🌱🔗 🤝 Connecting Farmers to Consumers: At Fruitage Foods, we understand the vital role that farmers and retailers play in our global food supply chain. That's why we've created a platform that seamlessly connects Farmers with end users, creating a direct and efficient channel for agricultural products. 🌐 Key Features of Fruitage Foods: -Marketplace for Agricultural Products: Showcase your produce to a wide audience of potential buyers, including retailers, restaurants, and consumers. -Transparent Transactions: Our platform ensures transparency in transactions, providing both parties with a secure and fair environment to buy and sell agricultural products. -Efficient Logistics: Streamline the delivery process with our logistics solutions, ensuring timely and safe transportation of your products to their destination. 🚀 Benefits for Farmers and Retailers: -Expanded Market Reach: Reach a broader audience beyond traditional markets, opening up new opportunities for growth. -Fair Pricing: Eliminate intermediaries and negotiate directly with buyers, ensuring fair pricing for your hard work and quality products. -Efficient Operations: Save time and resources with our user-friendly platform, allowing you to focus on what you do best – farming. 🌍 Why Join Fruitage Foods? Community Support: Connect with a community of like-minded farmers, retailers, and end users who share a passion for sustainable and efficient agriculture. Tech-Driven Solutions: Leverage the power of technology to simplify your operations and enhance the overall farming experience. 🌱 How to Get Started: Ready to take your Agribusiness to the next level? Visit our website https://lnkd.in/dyY7qWAy to create your profile and start exploring the endless possibilities. Let's cultivate a future where farmers and retailers thrive, and our communities have access to fresh, locally sourced agricultural products. Join Fruitage Foods and be part of the agricultural revolution! #Agriculture #AgTech #Farmers #Retailers #Innovation #SustainableFarming #FutureOfAgriculture