Ongoing industry issues create barriers for growers and packers

While the pandemic has catalysed many industry challenges, the inability to meet this growing demand was a problem long before COVID-19 came along.

Whether it’s due to a fear of change, the upfront investment, or just independent battlers struggling to stay relevant in a sea of big names, many packhouses still rely on outdated equipment that’s often more costly to maintain than it is to replace, while manual packaging processes slow things down and keep workers away from areas where they’re most needed.

With the demand for apples skyrocketing in 2020 – and this trend looking to continue through 2021 and beyond – many producers are hesitant about whether they’ll be able to keep up with demand. At the same time, many seem equally hesitant about exploring new options in order to keep up…