Clarifresh Around the Globe: Fruit Attraction 2024 & The Global Produce & Floral Show 2024
- Fresh Produce Software
- Supply Chain
October was an eventful month for the Clarifresh team. We attended two major fresh produce industry events: Fruit Attraction 2024 in Madrid and the Global Produce & Floral Show (IFPA) in Atlanta. Both of these events provided opportunities to meet with other industry leaders and showcase our Quality-Control-As-A-Service (QCAAS) solutions. It was also encouraging to see technology and digital transformation moving to the top of the agenda for fresh produce producers, retailers and marketers around the globe.
Fruit Attraction 2024: the Emerging Interface of Technology & Quality
Fruit Attraction is always a must-attend event for the agro-industrial world. But this year’s event was their biggest yet, with around 117,370 professionals from 145 countries in attendance. The conversations were also more technology-focused discussions than ever before. This isn’t surprising, because the industry is making a marked shift towards digitization, with quality control (QC) as a crucial differentiator. As our Head of Sales for LATAM and Spain, Cristobal Baeza put it: “Every year there is greater interest in technology, and quality has become a key focus for the industry.”
All in all, this was an ideal forum for Clarifresh, and we made the most of it. Our team held over 15 meetings with key stakeholders, including producers, exporters, and QC service providers. One of the most significant takeaways was the growing recognition of Clarifruit as a trusted name in the industry. Companies like Fruilar and Fruit de Ponent provided positive feedback on our software, speaking directly to its usefulness and reliability.
Talk of Transformation at the Global Produce & Floral Show 2024
At the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, the pace of digital transformation was a key theme. Companies that were previously slow to adopt new technology are now actively seeking ways to manage their unstructured data and improve their global QC operations. Clarifresh CEO Elad Mardix commented on this shift, noting the role that customer referral is playing in driving demand. “We are proud of the tier-1 customers we’ve gained over the past three years. The influx of new leads has been extraordinary, driven largely by customer references.”
From growers and wholesalers to grocery retailers and seed developers, stakeholders are now recognizing that the future of quality management lies in technology and automation. At the event, it was clear that Clarifresh’s brand recognition and credibility had grown since last year, with more prospects showing interest in our AI-driven solutions to streamline QC processes.
One key insight came from Todd Fabec, our Head of North America. He noted that “Traffic was steady”, and that many conversations centered on “the limitations of paper-based systems that simply don’t meet the speed and needs of today’s businesses.” These outdated systems include disparate data, manual entry and fragmented QC operations. This year’s Global Produce & Floral Show was a clear indication of a growing recognition that the industry needs to move away from these methods, and move towards AI and automation.
A New Field Takes Shape: Clarifresh’s Competitive Edge
Based on these events, it’s clear that the fresh produce industry as a whole is evolving at unprecedented speed. But not every company is in the market for AI-powered quality solutions just yet. Some (a small minority) are actively investigating the possibility of developing in-house solutions.
While this approach may seem appealing to some, the math tells a different story. A conservative estimate for self-developing a Level 2 solution on top of an existing electronic form would cost around $100.000. That kind of investment is already far higher than the cost of setting up a team of 50 inspectors on a done-for-you platform like ours. Now that digitalization is in vogue, we expect the in-house development vs. QCAAS debate to heat up – and we’re confident that more businesses will come to recognize that Clarifresh offers a more streamlined and cost-effective solution.
Looking Ahead: Embracing the Future of QC
As the fresh produce industry continues to evolve, Clarifresh is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, offering cutting-edge solutions that help businesses streamline their QC processes. The insights gained from Fruit Attraction and IFPA reinforce the growing importance of technology in quality management. We’re excited to continue this journey alongside our customers, driving efficiency and reliability for the global fresh produce supply chain.
If you’re ready to see how Clarifresh can enhance your QC operations, schedule a demo today and experience the difference firsthand.