Thought Leadership

The Year Operational Intelligence Became Essential for Crop Processors 

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Silhouette of a person jumping from a cliff labeled 2025 to another labeled 2026, with a blue sky and clouds in the background.

By John Roos, General Manager, ExtendAg  As 2025 comes to a close, one reality stands out across our industry: uncertainty is constant. Changes in consumer demand, weather volatility, supply variability, labor constraints, margin pressure, and rising expectations around traceability and transparency have fundamentally changed how processors must operate.  In this environment, success is no longer defined by how well organizations manage complexity … Read more

Seven Questions Every Processor Should Ask After 2025 Harvest 

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Orchard with rows of evenly spaced trees under a clear sky, with large white question marks digitally added above the trees.

By the ExtendAg Team As California’s 2025 harvest season wraps up, specialty crop processors are entering one of the most critical — yet often overlooked — phases of the year: post-harvest evaluation. This isn’t just a time to look back; it’s a chance to uncover insights that will define next season’s success. At the CLFP … Read more

How Fruit Processing Plants Are Using Operational Intelligence to Maximize Efficiency

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Walk into any modern fruit processing plant today, and you’ll notice something different from facilities of the past. Instead of relying on whiteboards, spreadsheets, and manual coordination, successful operations are using real-time data to make informed decisions about their most critical processes. This shift toward operational intelligence is helping fruit processing plants reduce waste, improve … Read more

8 Costly Peak Season Issues Crop Processors Should Avoid

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Aerial view of two trucks filled with wood chips parked at a facility with a blue roof and stacks of wood, next to an unloading area.

How operational chaos during your busiest time drains profits—and the specific fixes that stop the bleeding Only 40-50% of harvested fruits and vegetables actually reach consumers. The other 50-60% is lost somewhere along the supply chain. That’s not a developing world problem. That’s happening right here in the most advanced food processing systems on earth. … Read more

Why Automated Grading Is No Longer Optional for Raw Produce Processors

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Conveyor belt transporting freshly harvested potatoes in an industrial facility, featuring Raw Produce Grading and Automation for efficient sorting and processing.

Your line feels like it’s moving at 2,000 pounds per hour, and three of your most experienced graders called in sick. The summer crew you hired last week is still learning the difference between a #1 and #2 grade. Meanwhile, your largest customer rejected product because it didn’t meet their quality specs. Sound familiar? For … Read more

Why Field-Level Agronomics Belong in Your Grower Management System

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A man kneels in a cultivated field, inspecting the leaves of a row crop plant under a clear blue sky.

By John Roos, General Manager at ExtendAg. Featured in May 13th edition of the California League of Food Producers (CLFP) Insider email.    Field-level data is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive necessity for raw fruit and vegetable processors. Yet many processors still rely on separate systems and manual fixes. These don’t connect the … Read more

Strengthening Your Processing Foundation

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Aerial view of a large, organized orange grove with rows of trees extending into the distance, showcasing nature's digital transformation under a clear sky.

Must-Have Capabilities for Operational Efficiency in a Changing Industry By John Roos, General Manager, ExtendAg. Featured in April 8th edition of the California League of Food Producers (CLFP) Insider email. Efficient produce processing has always demanded precision, timing, and full visibility—from planning and contracting to receiving, grading and payment. After more than four decades supporting … Read more

The Challenges of Pricing and Contracting in Raw Fruit and Vegetable Processing – Part 3: Enhancing Pricing and Contracting with ExtendAg 

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An assortment of fruits and vegetables, including mangoes, berries, grapes, peppers, kiwis, apples, and avocados, is artistically arranged on a dark surface—each piece reflecting premium quality in both pricing and contracting standards.

Part three of a three part series on raw produce contracting and pricing. Having explored the key features of an ideal pricing and contracting solution in part two of this series, it’s time to see how these capabilities translate into measurable benefits. In this post, we discuss how processors can achieve streamlined, reliable, and compliant … Read more

The Challenges of Pricing and Contracting in Raw Fruit and Vegetable Processing – Part 2: Key Features of a Flexible Pricing and Contracting Platform

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Explore our selection of fruits and vegetables, featuring tomatoes, pears, oranges, carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, avocado, apples, pineapple, onions, and green peppers. Contact us for exceptional pricing and contracting options tailored to meet your needs.

Part two of a three part series on raw produce contracting and pricing. After understanding the challenges faced in pricing and contracting, it’s clear that processors need a system tailored to their unique needs. In this post, we’ll explore the key features of a flexible platform designed specifically for raw fruit and vegetable processors.  Keys … Read more

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