FreshCloud has improved efficiency and reduced reliance on external partners
The largest supplier of blueberries to the Australian market, Oz Group Co-op, has gained complete autonomy over managing and standardising its quality control processes since implementing AgroFresh Solutions’ digital packhouse system, FreshCloud less than a year ago.
Chief executive officer James Kellaway said by implementing FreshCloud, Oz Group has reduced reliance on external partners and introduced a more efficient, consistent system for assessing fruit quality.
“This has streamlined operations, improved accuracy in quality checks and reduced the need for manual intervention, while also allowing ongoing improvements and enhancements to better meet supermarket requirements,” he said.
The 100 per cent Australian farmer-owned co-operative represents more than 150 growers in Australia’s key blueberry growing region of the mid-north coast of New South Wales. It supplies about 6mn trays, equating to 8,976 tonnes, to the domestic market annually. All berries are processed at the Coffs Harbour packhouse and sold under two brands, The Berry Collective and Driscoll’s.
“Oz Group initially did not have its own quality management system, as this function was handled by our marketing partner, Driscoll’s. However, after adding another marketing partner, The Berry Collective, which did not provide this service, Oz Group recognised the need to manage quality control independently. We chose the FreshCloud platform due to its capabilities and the AgroFresh team’s willingness to tailor the system to meet our specific needs,” packhouse manager Sussan Marshall said.
“The lack of an existing in-house quality management system was the major challenge FreshCloud had to address. We needed a solution that could independently manage quality control. It needed to replicate and meet strict supermarket quality requirements while also being flexible enough to work for an additional marketing partner. FreshCloud was tailored to align with Oz Group’s existing processes, enabling us to conduct quality checks and continuously improve and enhance the system over time.”
FreshCloud has also improved efficiency by reducing manual processes and supporting better decision-making with accurate data, giving the business greater flexibility to work with multiple marketing partners, Marshall said.
“The FreshCloud integration is a strong selling point for attracting new growers. It demonstrates that Oz Group has a robust, reliable quality management system, ensuring consistent standards and efficient operations. This gives growers confidence that their produce will be handled professionally, meet supermarket requirements and support better outcomes for quality and market access.”
Marshall said the system has helped Oz Group manage customer expectations by providing accurate, real-time data on fruit quality, reducing surprises related to shrinkage and ensuring more consistent standards.
APAC digital sales and product lead Royce Sharplin added: “One of the most distinctive aspects of the engagement was the depth of consulting required before a single inspection was run. We audited Oz Group’s existing quality logic – much of which had never been documented. The Oz Group team knew the outputs were correct but could not explain it. This data became now fully visible and explainable to the Oz Group Co-op team for the first time.”
“In the first year alone, the system saved more than 20 hours a week in reporting,” Sharplin said.
FreshCloud is an integrated digital platform that works with existing technologies to make real-time data accessible and actionable from multiple devices including phone, laptop or tablet.
For more information, visit FreshCloud - AgroFresh at www.agrofresh.com/solutions/freshcloud/
