HMC Farms has partnered with Tevel Aerobotics Technologies to pilot its drone harvesting system utilizing flying autonomous robots. Each robot has the ability to fly, locate fruit, harvest and place the fruit all on its own with no human interaction required.  

Walmart has signed a definitive agreement with Canoo, a high-tech advanced mobility company, to purchase 4,500 all-electric delivery vehicles, beginning with the Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle, with the option to purchase up to 10,000 units. The vehicles will be used to deliver orders in a sustainable way that will also contribute to Walmart’s goal to achieve zero-emissions by 2040.

The expansion of hybrid shopping — getting groceries both in store and online — presents retailers with a variety of exciting opportunities to better engage with consumers by improving and streamlining the overall shopping experience both online and in stores.

The Food Industry Association released Part III of its U.S Grocery Shopper Trends 2022 series, titled “Navigating A Hybrid World.” The most recent release from the expansive, industry-leading survey of food shoppers' journeys explores the attitudes and behaviors of the hybrid shopper.

Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology recently assisted Inteligistics, a WGCIT partner, in the evaluation of Inteligistics’ InteliCool system at Fresh Del Monte facilities in Salinas, CA, and Yuma, AZ. The results were significant reductions in cooling cycle time, electric power savings, reduced CO2  emissions and overall efficiency improvement of 30 percent.

Farm automation startup FarmWise Labs Inc. has completed an oversubscribed $45 million Series B funding round, led by leading AgTech venture firms Fall Line Capital and Middleland Capital, with participation from GV and Taylor Farms, a leading grower and processor of leafy greens and fresh vegetables.

The Kroger Co. and NVIDIA announced a strategic collaboration to reimagine the shopping experience using AI-enabled applications and services.

The two companies will build a state-of-art AI lab and demonstration center to expand Kroger’s freshness initiatives, improve shipping logistics and create a better shopping experience in stores through digital twin simulations — virtual models designed to accurately reflect store layouts and other operations.