Tag: applied technology

Establishing its first commercial farm in Ithaca, NY in 2004, Newark, NJ-based AeroFarms can lay claim to being one of the earliest entrants to the North American vertical farming industry, with a business that has since expanded to include a farm in a former pinball and laser tag arena.

Vertical growing systems vary widely—from stacked shelves under LED lights to placing plants on rapidly moving platforms—but innovation is rife across the industry and possibilities are expanding on an almost daily basis.

Leafy greens, herbs, broccoli, and strawberries are all staples of any grocery retailer’s produce shelf and a key part of the global supply chain, but in the not-too-distant future many of these products are likely to be produced locally, even in the most unpromising conditions.

Despite the huge number of innovations, the fundamental problems of produce packaging do not seem to have been solved in any comprehensive way.

Considering all the innovation in packaging, the question remains: Are these newfangled packages going to be more expensive than their predecessors? After all, as a rule, new things cost more than old things.

Produce industry experts agree that the move toward sustainability will continue.

The trend toward increased packaging continued during the pandemic.

Probably no item exemplifies the dilemmas surrounding produce packaging more than the clear plastic clamshell.

Sadly, recyclable packaging products aren’t always, or often, recycled.

An update on sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging