There’s traditionally been a significant time lag in terms of feedback between input use (resources) and outputs (harvest).
AgTech solution such as TrueFruit helps in reducing these wait times; speeding up the feedback loop in-season, so farmers can be proactive instead of reactive in how they produce their crops.
AC Foods is a vertically integrated citrus company in California. With approximately 2000 orchard hectares, monitoring fruit growth with certainty is a challenge. But AgTech strategies are removing the guesswork.
Encompassing varieties like Sumos, Navels, Valencias, lemons, and grapefruit... they place a strong emphasis on growing the right piece of fruit at the right time.
"Technology plays a vital role in modern farming and goes hand-in-hand with traditional methods of being present in the fields. - Nick Theis, the director of farming at AC Foods
Leveraging technology can form part of a comprehensive range of farming activities. Like supporting good decision-making processes in real-time.
This includes considering factors like water application, fertiliser use, and pruning. All in relation to the actual growth of the fruit during the season.
This approach contrasts with older more traditional methods. Where as we know, there is often a lag in receiving information, and being able to take action... which could be costly.
The integration of TrueFruit allows AC Foods to track fruit growth curves throughout the season. By incorporating target growth curves into the platform (how much the fruit should ideally grow per week or month within the season) they can see if they are on track to hit their goal sizes.
Scouts use a the mobile app to take fruit size measurements throughout the month and compare them against these growth curves. This process involves in-field checks, followed by accessing the data online.
These reviews capture the progress of their different varieties within the season. This capability is impactful, as it provides insights into how fruit is developing versus the planned picking time.
For Nick Theis, this data "tells a story," enabling AC Foods to review past practices to identify successes and areas for improvement. “This ability to analyse performance and learn from it, is a key benefit of using tech like TrueFruit.”
Long-term, this information allows AC Foods to provide advance notice to the sales team, informing their harvest plans. The sales team in turn relays information to stakeholders further along in the supply chain.
Before adopting Aerobotics, AC Foods used electronic fruit measureres (EFMs). These are still common in the industry. However, many dislike these because EFMs restrict early morning fruit sizing. And these restrictions delay data compilation.
Non-invasive solutions like TrueFruit offers the advantage and flexibility of capturing fruit data at any time.
For added value, AC Foods is exploring the use of Aerobotics' X-Trials features. Where they will be able to monitor the impact of water application on fruit size, aiming to ensure they are applying the right amount of water.
X-Trials is a peripheral add-on solution to the in-field fruit sizing. Scouts size fruit at sample points that are compared to controls (in research fashion) to gain in-depth insights.
In essence, it's clear that at AC Foods, the core principle of "the right size fruit at the right time" is fundamental to their farming practices. And across all varieties.
For AC Foods, having this kind of data readily available, and on a single platform has been a "game changer".
The core TrueFruit product is split into two major sub-solutions.
In-field Fruit Sizing and Grading (AKA “TrueFruit Grade”)
Post-harvest Fruit Sizing and Grading (AKA “TrueFruit BinScan”)
The TrueFruit supported crops types - at time of writing:
Size + Grade + BinScan: Citrus, Apples
Size + Grade: Cherries, Blueberries, Grapes
Size only: Stone Fruit, Pomegranates, Avocados, Macadamias, Pears, Kiwi