So much depends on vegetable processors. Not least, product quality to protect retailers’ brand reputations and food safety to safeguard consumers’ health. But processing vegetables is rife with threats invisible to the human eye. Potentially harmful and sub-standard produce has to be identified and rejected from the processing line, yet defect-detection can be extraordinarily difficult.

New Johannesburg premises spotlight the technologies needed to improve food productivity

The world – particularly the world of food – is changing faster than ever before, with technological advancements and innovation fueling a whole new set of business requirements and consumer behaviors. With consumers already living in a digital world, the food processing industry is looking towards smart food processing and the ‘digital transformation’ required to digitalize their processes, enhance production, optimize efficiency and, generally, increase the overall quality and speed of their entire operation.

The world is currently wasting 1.3bn tons of the food produced for human consumption every year, which amounts to a third of all food produced for that purpose. From farm to fork, the issue of food waste is rife across all aspects of the supply chain and all corners of the globe. There isn’t just one solution to help reduce the impacts of food waste, however actionable steps can be taken to lessen the amount of food wasted. We are in the midst of a food waste crisis, and the world must respond now to reverse its impact before it is too late.

 TOMRA’s three food sorting and grading brands exhibit industry-leading solutions at Fruit Logistica Berlin.

The new plant in Funes (Navarre), which produces ready-made Spanish Omelettes, is an ambitious project which will significantly increase production capacity at BS Cocinados, S.L. Cutting-edge technology is necessary to achieve the desired quality standards, which is why the company has purchased a second TOMRA 5B unit with the latest chassis developments.

With the demand for fresh, convenient and healthy food growing among consumers, leafy greens are the order of the day. From fresh cut to pre-washed and pre-packaged products, this is a rapidly growing market with significant potential.

In many markets, quality, taste and origin remain three of the biggest influences on consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. In response to this, retailers continue to revise and upgrade their specifications, pushing fresh pack carrot producers to meet higher standards and food safety regulations than ever before.

The scale of the global food waste problem is staggering. According to reports, 1.6 billion tons of food are lost or wasted every year, equating to a total value of $1.2 trillion being wiped from the supply chain. With one-third of the total amount of food produced globally being misused, the industry needs to look towards innovation and digitalization to combat this ever-growing trend.

The need for speed at vegetable processing facilities can sometimes seem incompatible with their other operational and commercial objectives. Perishable produce must be sorted and packed quickly to maximize its shelf life, but the faster this is done, the less time there is for large volumes of produce to be sorted accurately for food safety and quality. And as an added complication, retailers and consumers increasingly expect food producers to adopt sustainable working practices.