Technology news from Fresh Produce Journal
Technology news stories with a direct relevance to the UK fresh produce business, including updates on production and harvesting systems, sorting and grading machinery, packaging, coldstorage and controlled atmosphere, digital management, robots and automation, vertical farming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Fieldwork Robotics partners with Portuguese berry producers for harvesting trials
Fieldwork Robotics has partnered with Portugal’s Research Centre for Sustainability for a 24-month programme to trial robotic raspberry harvesting on farms near São Teotónio, focusing on Driscoll’s varieties and addressing regional labour shortages
Rijk Zwaan champions ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties
Dutch seed specialist Rijk Zwaan continues to develop its portfolio of tomato varieties with high resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus, addressing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges
Fischer Farms appoints sales director to new tech division
Vertical farming company’s new tech arm will manufacture scalable and efficient ‘grow containers’ for deployment worldwide
IBO Summit 2025 brings together global blueberry participants
The International Blueberry Organization Summit 2025 brought together 575 participants from 32 countries in South Africa, highlighting the region’s growing role as a key producer and exporter in the global blueberry market.
Polytunnel refusals are troubling: We need them to climate-proof UK production
Tunnel installation is a small price to pay for climate resilient food production and planning rules should reflect that, writes Nina Pullman
Peter Durber wins Lifetime Achievement Award at FPC Fresh Awards
London awards ceremony recognised excellence across fresh produce supply chain from groundbreaking agritech solutions to sustainability milestones
Angela Eagle chooses berry producer for first official farm visit
New minister visited Hugh Lowe Farms with NFU president Tom Bradshaw to tour berry trials and discuss seasonal workers and crop protection
British Berry Growers showcases sustainability gains
British Berry Growers has published its Sustainability Report 2025, highlighting how the industry is leading sustainable farming practices while supplying healthy, homegrown berries across key environmental themes
Fyffes on a mission to ‘bring more value’ to bananas
Chief commercial officer Frank Burkhardt outlines the banana giant’s efforts to decommoditise the sector and make it more sustainable, despite climate change and geopolitical instability
Amazon to shut all ‘Fresh’ stores in UK
Retailer will close its 19 till-free stores in London, with plans to focus on online grocery deliveries instead
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CarbonXtras scheme empowers Ghanaian farmers with climate-smart technology
A £100,000 initiative is supporting Ghanaian smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart, regenerative farming methods using advanced soil sensor technology to combat soil degradation and climate change pressures.
Robots help Scottish berry growers combat mildew disease
Angus Soft Fruits deployed Thorvald robots using UV-C light treatment to control powdery mildew during Scotland’s exceptionally hot summer, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fungicides while protecting crop quality and boosting yields
Coveris partners with Tipa for UK compostable produce labels
Coveris and Tipa Compostable Packaging have formed an exclusive partnership to manufacture and market compostable labels for fresh produce in the UK, responding to increasing market demand and tightening regulatory requirements for produce sticker compostability
NIAB research advances precision orchard management
OrchardQuant 3D system allows accurate 3D mapping of apple and pear orchards, helping growers maximise production and adapt to climate change
Sormac sees dynamism in UK and Ireland
Machinery manufacturer Sormac says UK and Irish companies are continuing to invest strategically, with automation and efficiency seen as vital tools to manage today’s big challenges
Dutch greenhouse workers trial exoskeletons to reduce strain
A pilot project in the Netherlands is evaluating how mechanical support devices could make repetitive horticultural tasks less physically demanding
Apeel Sciences sues wellness influencer over ‘toxic’ coating claims
California-based company files lawsuit against wellness influencer Robyn Openshaw, alleging she conducted years-long disinformation campaign against company’s plant-based produce coatings
UK growers spot stonefruit potential
Weather conditions in the south of England were ideal for cherry and plum production this year, as growers like WB Chambers step up efforts to extend the seasons
Scottish firms behind world-first GigaFarm in Dubai
Agritech manufacturer IGS and deployment partner Modutec have teamed up for a project designed to replace 1 per cent of food imports in the UAE
StepacPPC champions sustainable pallet shrouds for fresh produce
Fresh produce packaging specialist StepacPPC has introduced Xtend Pallet Shrouds, an innovative full-pallet packaging solution designed to extend shelf-life of berries and other delicate produce while reducing plastic usage during transport