aaggrrii, a division of Masitek Instruments is pleased to announce that Farm Fresh Produce, a leading grower, distributor and exporter of produce with headquarters in North Carolina, has selected the SmartSpud smart sensor to detect, measure and report impact subjected to its crop. Encased in a urethane replica of the firm’s primary crop, sweet potatoes, the SmartSpud is enabled with Bluetooth technology and processed alongside the company’s produce to deliver real-time information on variables that affect product quality.
Farm Fresh Produce is utilizing SmartSpud sensor technology to calibrate equipment for better efficiency, and improve overall quality control. The company aims to significantly reduce crop damage by as much as 50%.
"Although our packing facilities are performing well, we know that there is room to improve,” explains Steven Ceccarelli, Founder and President of Farm Fresh Produce, “SmartSpud will not only allow us to see where bruising is occurring, it will give us the opportunity to measure improvement. We also plan to use the product during harvesting to see if there are different approaches we can take to reduce damage.”
The SmartSpud can be deployed from harvesting to the processing line to reduce waste by minimizing bruising, shatter damage and black spots.
Ceccarelli adds, “Every growing season is different and variables such as how much moisture is in the ground can have an effect on harvesting results. We feel that with real time information coming to a tablet right in the field, we will be able to adjust to conditions much faster."
Steven Ceccarelli founded Farm Fresh Produce in 2010, following in the footsteps of his father who spent decades in the business. Based in North Carolina, the company has grown to have operations in Mississippi, Quebec, CA and a distribution center in the Netherlands. Their second packaging facility was opened just over a year and a half ago to accommodate their growing export market, which sees up to 95% of the company’s crop shipped overseas.
Farm Fresh Produce also plans to deploy SmartSpud to check optimum pallet sizes and stacking capabilities. Their goal is to optimize freight and logistics while ensuring the product is at optimal quality prior to shipping.
Executive VP of Global Sales for Masitek Instruments, Pablo Asiron, comments, "Steven has set up a vertically integrated company that is growing aggressively in its category. It is impressive how they deploy technology to improve oversight, focusing on enhancing and optimizing processes. We really look forward to this partnership and helping them move forward.”
Contact:
Teri Maltais
aaaggrrii by Masitek
Phone: (+1) 506.874.6799