The fresh produce industry has remained resilient despite challenging cost increases, a rise in National Insurance and inflation, according to the CEO of fruit supplier Worldwide Fruit.
Steve Maxwell, head of the topfruit and avocado specialist, told FPJ that he is confident in the positivity and resilience shown across the industry.
“Resilience has been proven,” he said, speaking at the recent Festival of Fresh event, organised by FPJ and hosted by Worldwide Fruit. ”We’ve all got through the shock of the energy prices, we’ve had the cost-of-living crisis.”
Maxwell also discussed investments the company is making in non-destructive quality control testing, using AI modelling and scanning provided by tech company Clarifresh, as part of its aim to reduce food waste.
“I think historically we’ve cut too much of our fruit, just to prove what we already know,” said Maxwell. ”What can we do to look inside it and get the right data points, that enable us to make the right decisions? We don’t want to destroy that fruit.”
He confirmed the company uses some waste avocado to make oil, and said the company is looking at other waste recycling avenues involving insects. ”How do you get more product back into the food chain, that’s not just for animals. It’s about how do we waste less,” he said.
