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The Year Ahead: Weather and the changing climate

- Produce Blueprints
While it’s true weather has always been unpredictable, the last few years have proven this is now a vast understatement—with devastating weather events seeming to be the new normal.

The Year Ahead: Technology and labor

- Produce Blueprints
“Labor issues are starting to stabilize, but they remain a real concern for most retailers and suppliers I speak with,” says Kevin Brooks, of Procurant

The Year Ahead: AI in the retail realm

- Produce Blueprints
“Retailers are gaining experience with AI, but they still don’t have a good handle on it,” says Phil Lempert, the Los Angeles, CA-based Supermarket Guru.

The Year Ahead: AI goes mainstream

- Produce Blueprints
As the produce industry continued to find its equilibrium in 2023, issues like artificial intelligence, climate change, labor, and food safety affected everyone along the supply chain.

Reefer Downloads: Why they don’t tell the whole story

- Produce Blueprints
Somewhere right now a produce buyer and seller are discussing the streams of temperature and mechanical data from a reefer download.

Courtesy Contacts: New from Blue Book’s Trading Assistance team

- Produce Blueprints
Blue Book Services recently introduced what we’re calling “Courtesy Contacts” for situations where the claimant isn’t quite ready to open a collection.  

AI: What lies ahead

- Produce Blueprints
Artificial intelligence is advancing across the produce industry at breakneck speed, and the industry is working to keep up with advancements.

AI: Costs of implementation

- Produce Blueprints
Factoring in the costs of artificial intelligence is more than figuring upfront expenditures

AI: Robots as allies

- Produce Blueprints
Automation can be pricey, particularly for smaller operations, which is why it’s important to look at such changes with an eye on long-term benefits.

AI: Automation and labor

- Produce Blueprints
Produce suppliers are looking to artificial intelligence to solve longstanding—and deteriorating—labor challenges, for multiple reasons.