Try Acres for free: https://www.acres.co/
IFPA's Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/fresh-field-catalyst/
"Taste is King" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-56-taste-is-king/
"Locally Grown Through Vertical Farming on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-59-locally-grown-through-vertical-farming/
"Traceability is Crucial to the World Produce Industry" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-55-traceability-is-crucial-to-the-world-produce-industry/
"New Innovations are Improving All Aspects of Our Produce Supply Chain" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-68-live-from-the-global-show-2022-part-four/
"The Future of Automation is in the Fields" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-57-the-future-of-automation--is-in-the-fields/
Today’s episode features Vonnie Estes, vice president of innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association or IFPA. You probably noticed in our opening segment more than just Vonnie’s voice. That’s because we will be playing clips of some of the entrepreneurs and mentors that participated in IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst this past year.
You see, Vonnie reached out about coming back onto the podcast to talk about how applications are open for their second cohort. After talking to Vonnie and hearing about how the first cohort went, I realized this would be a great chance to talk about tech and innovation in the produce industry in general. Our conversation today covers some of the challenges facing this industry, including water, labor, food safety, traceability, quality, compliance and more. And you’ll hear from entrepreneurs and industry leaders about differentiation, consumer preferences, indoor ag, traceability, and automation and robotics.
Before we dive in, I want to make it clear that the intention of the accelerator is to attract companies that already have a product in the market somewhere. That could be a market outside of agriculture, or perhaps in row crops, or maybe in produce but in another geography. So they’re looking for companies that already have some traction, but maybe haven’t directed much focus to produce yet but think that there might be value in that market. If that sounds like you or someone you know, applications close soon: March 20 of 2023. I’ll link to the application in the show notes.
You may remember hearing from Vonnie back in episode 270 of this podcast. To refresh your memory, she has held leadership positions at prominent companies including DuPont, Monsanto, and Syngenta along with start-ups including DNAP, Emergent Genetics, and Caribou Biosciences. She has a BS in Horticulture from New Mexico State and a Masters in Plant Pathology from UC Davis.
In addition to Vonnie, you’re going to hear clips from some of the entrepreneurs and mentors in the program’s first cohort. These clips came from Vonnie’s podcast called Fresh Takes on Tech. You definitely want to go check that out. I’ll link to it in the show notes as well.
FoA 270: Produce Technology and Digitizing Taste
FoA 269: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Cooperatives Embrace Digital Tools with KC Graner of Central Farm Service
FoA 268: California Water and the Future of Sustainable Irrigation
FoA 267: Tapping into the Microbiome for Animal Health with Chris Belnap of Resilient Biotics
FoA 266: Microsoft Wants to Democratize Data-Driven Agriculture
FoA 265: Climate, Land Use, and Agriculture with Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute
FoA 264: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Drone Technology with Todd Vagts of Bayer Crop Science
FoA 263: Better Ingredients for Processed Foods with Joanne Zhang
FoA 262: Specialty Crops and Agtech with Allan Fetters
FoA 261: The Digital Dairy with Jordan Lambert of VAS
FoA 260: The Lentil Underground with Dave Oien of Timeless Seeds
FoA 259: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Shannon Winny, Owner and Senior Agronomist at GroWest Ag Ventures
FoA 258: The Power of Peptides with Anna Rath and Ben Cicora from Vestaron
FoA 257: Bringing Ag Innovation to the Desert with HE Dr. Tariq bin Hendi
FoA 256: Agtech Collaboration and Data-Driven Decision Agriculture with Jim Ethington of Arable
FoA 255: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Matt Larson, Agronomy Sales Manager at CHS
FoA 254: The Digitization of Global Agribusiness with Syngenta Chief Information Officer Greg Meyers
FoA 253: Social E-commerce and Gamifying Groceries with Xin Yi Lim of Pinduoduo
FoA 252: Local Meat Processing, Marketing and Logistics with Adam Parks
[Bonus] Ag Labor and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with Shay Myers and Representative Cliff Bentz
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