March/April 2023 - 8

POST-COVID PROCESSING FACILITY
Another change Treacy has seen is
increased diversification. Producers are
changing their purchasing patterns to
adapt to longer lead times and expanding
their pool of suppliers.
" What we're finding is, when they can
find it, they're loading up, if they've got
the financial wherewithal to do it, " he said.
" They may buy two years' worth of
product in one lump sum because they
just want to have it. They went through
a period where they couldn't get it, and
they suffered. The yield went down, and
they weren't as efficient. "
Slightly more than 17% of survey
respondents said their products are not
the same as pre-COVID, and a handful
said they also began offering different
products, including non-produce options.
A handful of survey respondents said they
also began offering different products,
including non-produce. " We had to, "
responded one producer, while another
reported adding products with longer
shelf life.
" When you're not
making money or not
making as much as you
used to and your costs
are up, you try to look for
every opportunity. "
- ED TREACY, INTERNATIONAL FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
" What we're also seeing is people are
relying more on or looking for things
that will increase the yield, " Treacy said.
" Where they were previously satisfied
with initial methods and the inputs they
used, they're seeking out now more
solutions of how I can get more pounds
per acre.
" The events of the last two years have
kind of sparked that. People are focused
on or looking for efficiencies in every
facet of their business.
" When you're not making money or
not making as much as you used to and
your costs are up, you try to look for
every opportunity. "
Oppor tunity for some sur vey
respondents has taken the form of new
investment, with 56.25% reporting
purchasing new equipment or processing
lines since COVID, while 67% said their
facility footprint has increased.
That's indicative of one potential
long-term positive emerging from the
pandemic - the nimbleness producers
had to exhibit to keep going.
" Companies have really tightened
up their supply chains and looked for
efficiencies, " Treacy said. " In desperate
times, you figure out a way to maximize
your efficiency.
" I think we're more efficient today
than we were two years ago, or three
years ago, just based on what we all went
through. We had to be to survive, and
those changes you implemented hopefully
will stick with you. "
8 MARCH/APR I L 2 023
http://latitude35foods.com

March/April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2023

March/April 2023 - 1
March/April 2023 - 2
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