Recent research has indicated that self-esteem is linked to consumer's likeliness to buy blemished or otherwise less-than perfect fruits and vegetables. In a study published by Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, buying "unattractive" produce was shown to negatively affect shoppers' self-image, which therefore makes them less willing to purchase it as opposed to more attractive - albeit equally safe - produce.

Bordering crops with wildflower plantings is becoming an increasingly popular method to attract pollinators and pest predators.  But are wildflower borders appropriate for all growers?  Are there wildflower species that can actually hinder yields?

Subscription box services are a relatively new marketing phenomenon but one that has taken the world by storm. Known for being extremely popular among millenials in the form of monthly curated beauty boxes, the subscription box craze has expanded to include options for razors, sci-fi memorabilia, candy, crystals, and now, fresh produce. Companies like Chef’s Plate, Yummy Dishes, Miss Fresh and more deliver fresh fruits and vegetables right to customer's doors inside their weekly and monthly healthy meal kit delivery boxes.  One of the best parts?  Most of the produce comes from small-scale, local growers.

The practice of summer shearing, or sidewall mowing, in order to shape trees into fruiting walls has been growing in popularity over the last few years.  But a Pennsylvania researcher warns growers in climates where trees grow vigorously that they should take caution before getting too shear-happy.

How can the agricultural sector successfully incorporate sustainable, green practices? As the clock ticks on widely known climate change ‘deadlines’, the day to day realities involved in executing efficient, profitable food production continue. Regardless, the need for a huge shift in reducing industry waste is critical to addressing environmental limitations. Improving packaging throughout the supply chain means reducing single-use plastics, developing viable biodegradable and recyclable alternatives from sustainable sources, and limiting the amount of packaging materials required to safely transport produce and food products from farm to table.

Following up on our recent research for our resource page on Near-Infrared (NIR) technology for the fresh produce industry, we have created a technology round up of NIR and DA (Differential Absorbance) tools on the market today.

Quality assessment of fresh produce is undergoing rapid technological advancements, shifting from reliance on slow, destructive laboratory methods (such as penetrometers and refractometers) toward high-throughput, non-invasive spectral analysis. Though this technology is relatively new to fresh produce, several companies have jumped ahead of the curve to calibrate NIR spectrometers for fruit and vegetable analysis.

Portable NIR tools have a longer history in construction, manufacturing and geological industries. Some of the brands we will review first created NIR tools for these other industries, but a few agricultural tech manufacturers have also entered the market. We have focused this article only on hand held NIR tools, including DA meters, which have a smaller and specific functionality for chlorophyll level assessment.

Starting fresh in 2025, we are updating our sustainable packing technology round-up. Recent consumer studies suggest that a large percentage of customers are willing to pay more for more sustainable products. This shift in consumer attitude as well as advancements in sustainable packing tech is helping to push the fresh fruit and vegetable industry towards more environmentally friendly options. Previously we have discussed the challenges and benefits of adopting more sustainable packaging options in horticulture. In this article we will get into how the landscape of sustainable packaging has changed to mitigate some of the issues preventing growers and packers from choosing greener packing options and how some of the regulatory changes and requirements impacting the fruit and vegetable industry are shifting.

There is a lot of anxiety in the media right now about the future of artificial intelligence: Will AI steal our jobs, copy our artwork, plagiarize our writing? Just this week, the dangers of artificial intelligence, the existential threat it could represent, the extinction level risk that could be on par with climate change, nuclear war and the Matrix - the articles are rising to the top of the Google ranks faster than many of us human bloggers can keep up.

The potential of digital applications in agriculture generates enthusiasm about the future of food production among technologists and is a cause for uncertainty among others. But for many farm managers, the time has come to adapt, and the race to adopt (or develop) the best technology will determine the future of humankind.

Consumers' attitudes towards online shopping are becoming increasingly positive as time goes on - and online grocery shopping is no exception.  In 2018, grocery e-commerce sales totaled $58.9 billion — a whopping 35.4% increase from 2017.  Today we look at the implications  the online grocery shopping boom hold for fresh produce growers.

What growing techniques shape your production? Plow, chisel, disk, ridge plant – all of these tillage systems offer different advantages when growing in poorly drained soils and aim to start your growing season off with a suitable soil environment. If tillage is in your planning, ideally it’s  executed conservatively: the mechanical manipulation of soil promotes erosion, creating greater need for compensating inputs over time, and larger strain on food production systems worldwide. 

Continuing our article updates trend in the new year, we put together a refreshed round-up of rugged cell phone and tablet cases for 2025. A mobile device is a very essential farming tool. Being able to log farm records on the go saves valuable time when assessing costs and preparing for audits. Having to input essential information, like worklogs, inventory or spray records at the end of the day, week, month or frantically right before an audit, can quickly get out of control, especially given the new demands on farmers coming from rulings like FSMA204. Growers must be able to produce digital and searchable inventory traceability records within 24 hours of being asked.

We take a look at the best in the business when it comes to keeping your phone and tablet safe in the field. Read on for the top ten rugged cases for your phone and tablet in 2023.

We take a look at the best in the business when it comes to keeping your phone and tablet safe in the field. Read on for the top ten rugged cases for your phone and tablet in 2019. For our most updated version check out our Top Ten Rugged Phone and Tablet Cases for 2023.

We take a look at the top mobile batteries on the market to keep you connected all day on the field.

When working relies on being out in the elements, the tools you need to get the job done should withstand these conditions within reasonable use. Agricultural production is certainly not without its dirt and damp, so when it comes to something like a smartphone, what might be a good purchase? We’ve highlighted some currently available phones and cases of note that aim to pass the test of your day to day needs.

Accurate classification is the key to quality assurance and integral to success in commercial-scale produce markets. Apart from filtering out obvious disease, size is a primary classifier for selling fruit in graded classes. When it comes to sizing fruits like apples and peaches, the tried and true methods are still a big part of the production process. Contemporary tech solutions compliment the human touch while speeding up the processing element of harvest. Having the right tools in your toolkit improves your competitive advantage in the highly time-sensitive world of perishable goods.

The USDA has announced plans to discontinue the use of an insensitive term as a size grade.  

Imagine if you had the ability to control exactly how much sun, and rain your crops got. What if you could set the ideal temperature for everything you grow, and could control the humidity and air flow with perfect precision? Grappling with the effects of the environment while producing food has always been the farmer’s biggest challenge. But Vertical Farming takes all the uncertainty out of growing by creating and maintaining the perfect climate for whatever you’re growing.

Harvesting for the fresh produce market demands conscientious, strategic attention to quality metrics that determine the worth of a season. Done right, and the maximized return is clear for all parties in the supply chain. Gathering key data insights at the orchard or on receipt at the packinghouse boosts the efficiency of the steps that follow: pack or store, then ship.