Foodshed.io, a technology platform connecting local farms with major retailers, and Fox Packaging, a Texas-based flexible packaging manufacturer for the fresh produce industry, have developed a packaging solution designed to help small and midsize farms bring products to retail shelves more efficiently.
The collaboration addresses a longstanding gap in the local food supply chain: the distance between the operational realities of smaller farms and the packaging, merchandising and checkout requirements of large grocery retailers. The work emerged as Foodshed.io began piloting its local produce model with Kroger, which highlighted the need for a scalable packaging approach that could bring farmers who traditionally sell through farmers markets into a major retail environment while meeting the retailer’s packaging and checkout expectations.
“Small farms operate differently than large-scale suppliers, and we needed a packaging solution that respected those differences without compromising the retail experience,” said Dan Beckman, CEO of Foodshed.io. “Working with Fox Packaging, we’ve been able to create a solution that works for farmers, retailers and, ultimately, consumers.”
Flexibility built in
The packaging accommodates a wide range of fresh produce, supports product preservation and can be distributed to multiple farms on short lead times, while remaining practical for growers without automated packaging equipment. It also supports flexible checkout processes and grower identification, so retailers can manage locally sourced products while individual farms receive proper credit and payment.
“For local produce to succeed at scale, packaging has to do more than protect the product. It has to work across the entire supply chain,” said Victoria Lopez, marketing and business development manager at Fox Packaging.
“By developing a solution that accommodates smaller production volumes and diverse grower needs, we’re helping remove barriers that have historically made it difficult for local farms to participate in larger retail programs.”
Retailer benefits
For retailers, the companies say, the approach offers a more diverse local assortment, differentiated merchandising, traffic and incremental revenue, bringing a farmers market experience into the grocery environment. The partners plan to integrate the packaging work with Foodshed.io’s AI-driven farmer platform to further simplify connecting growers with retail opportunities.
Fox Packaging brings more than 60 years in fresh produce packaging, with formats including Fox Fresh Mesh, poly and wicketed bags, select materials available with up to 30 percent post-consumer recycled content, and equipment and automation through its Fox Solutions arm.
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