South Tyrolean company says it has transformed its operations with investments in advanced tech
Driverless forklifts, automated stacking, AI camera-based sorting, and machines that can handle more than 300 individual apples every minute.
This is the modern reality for Italian producer association Vip, which, like many apple suppliers across the globe, has come to appreciate the value of technological investment as a means to ensure consistent quality.
In the past, knowing how to grow and harvest apples was the primary challenge for its member growers in South Tyrol’s Val Venosta.
But the need for greater efficiency and sustainability has made it essential to use a greater array of advance sorting, packing and storage technologies.
“Our latest innovations include selection techniques based on machine learning to detect errors quickly and accurately, with the aim of keeping the excellent quality produced by our farmers intact all year round,” explains Vip’s production manager Peter Stricker.
Smooth transition
As a result, in recent times, Vip’s member cooperatives have modernised their facilities gradually and deliberately.
This includes the addition of storage systems that limit or even pause the fruit’s ripening process, as well as an impressive level of automation in logistical and packaging processes.
In fact, according to the association, every single order is now checked digitally before it is shipped.
Modern distribution techniques have also made it easier to work with particular apple varieties.
“Pinova, Cosmic Crisp, and Golden Delicious prove suitable for long-term storage,” says Stricker. “For these varieties, we pay particular attention to freshness, so as to guarantee high quality even in the coming summer months.”
In the end, it’s a strategy designed to ensure a smooth transition between seasons, enabling Vip to offer its customers a reliable service throughout the year.
