"Like having a greengrocer next door - in a digital way"

You can see them around more and more often: vending machines that offer eggs, grilled meat or fresh fruit and vegetables. These are often set up by farmers* who are looking for an additional outlet for their goods. In the Palatinate, in the Kandel area, there are now more and more Zalat-O-Maten: vending…

Russia: 93 thousand tons of produce harvested by Lipetsk growers

The growers of the Russian Lipetsk region have collected over 93 thousand tons of greenhouse vegetables since the beginning of the year. It exceeds the data of the same period of the last year, when 68.4 thousand tons were collected, by 36%. The crop distribution is as follows: 53.6 thousand tons of…

Dutch company gets automatic crate unfolding device

Two Dutch companies recently signed an agreement. Tielen Groenten is a vegetable grower and wholesaler. They wanted Reintjes Systems to design and build an automatic crate unfolding machine.  Barely a month later, on 31 August, this device was placed at the wholesaler. Reintjes Systems is a startup company.…

First controllable and transportable irrigation water treatment system installed

Duncan Family Farms, a family-owned, multi-regional grower of over 7,000 acres of certified organic produce, announced the installation of a highly effective, controllable and transportable treatment system for irrigation water. The installation, including 5 systems on organic baby tender leaf crops in…

Rapidly destemming cherry tomatoes

Convenience fruit sales have risen considerably in recent years. Mixed fruit salads containing grapes are very popular in supermarkets all over the world. Small wonder, then, that the Destemmer is one of the Dutch company, ZTI's, international best-selling machines. It's well-know that it destems grapes…

Crux Agribotics develops SortiPack for sweet pointed peppers

Crux Agribotics expands its SortiPack product portfolio by developing a Grading, Sorting and Packing application for sweet pointed pepper. Sweet pointed peppers are becoming more popular. Mainly due to taste and health value, the consumption by consumers is increasing. Sweet pointed peppers are available…

Multi-functional cutting machine satisfies Chinese market demand for sliced fruits and vegetables

Consumers have been paying even more attention to food safety since the outbreak of Covid-19. At the same time, there is also a growing demand for sliced fruits and vegetables. The cutting up of fruits and vegetables is an important step in the processing of fruits and vegetables. This step is not just…

Hygroscopic solution takes aim at humidity issues

The high relative humidity in the greenhouse was one of the main reasons for Hungarian fresh herb grower Akkos to invest in a dehumidifier. About four years ago, they installed the dehumidification systems of Agam Greenhouses and since then, plants are healthier and more stable than before. Special about…

Agricultural robot maker raises EUR 9.5 million

Norwegian and UK based Saga Robotics has recently raised EUR 9.5 million from international investors in support of its ambitious growth plans. Thorvald robots are operating on multiple farms across the world, where they perform light treatment to control mildew on strawberries and vines, drastically…

"It impressed everyone how quickly we integrated the Burg portal unloader at our bell pepper packaging site"

This bell pepper season, the Dutch company, PapriCo, is working with a new portal unloader. It's the first time they're using this machine from Burg Machinery. PapriCo growers are members of the DOOR cooperative. They deliver bulk bell peppers to a packaging site in the Netherlands. It belongs to this…

Image: Wootzano

UK robotics developer receives six-figure funding package

Wootzano, a tech firm in the northeast pf the UK that makes ‘electronic skin’ for robots, has sealed a six figure funding package to protect the business through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The company has tapped into the funding from HSBC UK through the Government scheme, enabling…

Mobile nanobubble service for seasonal and on-demand water treatment in North America

Moleaer has launched a new mobile nanobubble generator service to treat, preserve and improve water quality, irrigation water storage ponds, produced water and wastewater with…

"Increasing efficiencies in iceberg lettuce packaging"

To meet demands of growers across the market to reduce labor, enable faster packaging speeds and lower maintenance costs when wrapping iceberg lettuce, the engineers at Redpack Packaging Machinery have been working closely with growers across the globe to come up with a solution that wraps iceberg in a…

Automated shuttle car optimizes packhouse flow

Many packhouses are looking to reduce the amount of forklifts operating on the floor and for that reason Somerset West-based Gossamer Packaging Machinery have designed an automated shuttle car for the circulation of empty and full pallets or bins without the use of pallet jacks or forklifts. The shuttle…

US (CT): Brass City Harvest Food Hub using BioSafe Systems’ smart technology for good

In the middle of a dusty brownfield there is a big, new, red building that sticks out like a red tomato in the bread aisle, Brass City Harvest Food Hub. The new facility is purposefully planted in the south end of Waterbury to make its services and fresh groceries available to local members of the…

Wheel loader + Telehandler = Telescopic loader

Greenhouse demolition contractors are economical with their building materials. Everything must be stacked neatly and able to be loaded into the truck. That is important for the reselling of the materials. Preferably, the materials of the disassembled greenhouses are loaded into the truck directly. This…

CambridgeHOK

UK: An in-depth guide to heat pumps

A correctly engineered heat pump can be a useful source of heat in most applications and should definitely be considered as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Most people have heard of ground source heat pumps and air-sourced heat pumps. You may even have heard multiple sweeping statements around…

America really needs its farmworkers

In California’s Central Valley, workers are still showing up to work day after day, but a serious worker shortage looms. The majority of those who are picking crops are migrant workers who came to the state to provide for their families. Their hard work keeps the American grocery stores stocked; without…

Coronavirus accelerates the rise of the robot harvester

When UK farmers found themselves short-staffed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, the government launched a campaign urging the public to cover the shortfall and “Pick for Britain”. With the recruitment campaign struggling to convert applicants into farm workers and Brexit already disrupting the supply…

12-hole strawberry tray for a mobile tray field system

Kraege Beerenpflanzen propagates strawberry plants and has been looking for a system that can increase the number of plants per m2 and with which a qualitatively optimal plant can be produced. A tray field makes it possible to cultivate above ground, without loss of space for walkways. A choice was made for…

Norwegian strawberry picking robot popular due to COVID crisis

The corona pandemic has once again demonstrated how dependent agriculture is on seasonal workers, but Norwegian growers may get help from robots next year. For Norwegian growers, the development of autonomous robots cannot move quickly enough, especially now that many of them are struggling to find…

"Demand was so great that there were supply shortages"

The innovative PROBAND V banding process from the Kranenburg company project Service & Produktion LLC was one of the absolute highlights at this year's Fruit Logistica. It was not unexpected that the machine with its quick-change frame was nominated for the coveted Innovation Award. We talked to Product…