The latest fresh produce tech retailers should know about
Fresh produce has always been one of the trickiest categories in grocery, with a narrow window between peak quality and spoilage. Today, as rising costs and labour pressures add to the challenge, grocers are turning to new technologies to keep the department at its prime.
“Technology is becoming essential for the produce department because fruits and vegetables are highly perishable and historically difficult to manage due to [price look up] PLU-based data and inconsistent visibility,” says Rick Stein, vice-president of fresh foods at FMI—The Food Industry Association.
He references FMI’s The State of Fresh Foods 2025 report, which highlights how new inventory and replenishment tools help retailers better track sales and purchasing patterns, right-size inventory and reduce shrink caused by over-ordering, while maintaining optimal product levels and freshness. “This matters because produce remains a top-priority department for food retailers and a major driver of shopper engagement and trips,” Stein says.
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Austin, Tex.-based Upshop is one tech company helping grocers improve forecasting and optimize inventory. Its AI-driven platform brings together data and insights on sales, buying cycles, weather patterns, holidays, promotions and more. “This helps to ensure you’ve got the freshest and the right products on the shelf,” says Mike Sanders, CEO of Upshop, adding that great forecasting is “the bedrock” for grocers.
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) uses Upshop’s platform to support production planning for value-added offerings in produce departments across its network. “We recognize the importance of both a strong in-stock position and optimizing for shrink in this growing category,” says Joshua Hubert, senior manager of produce operations at FCL, adding that the tool is easy to use for employees of all experience levels.
Innovation to improve the produce department is also happening beyond the store. KluraLabs, a U.K.-based materials science company, has developed active packaging designed to extend shelf life and reduce food waste across the supply chain. The technology integrates antimicrobial and preservation capabilities directly into packaging to help slow spoilage. “What’s different about our solution is we don’t target the food—we’re directly targeting bacteria and mould, which is how most food-freshness issues occur,” says Charlie Hobhouse, chief executive officer, KluraLabs.
In a recent trial with U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer, Hobhouse says grape waste was reduced by 50% and shelf life was extended by around five days. KluraLabs is also conducting small trials on grape packaging with Canadian retailers and hopes to fully launch in the country by September.
Technology can also help reduce waste further upstream. DCL International has developed a catalytic system to remove ethylene—a natural plant hormone that accelerates the ripening process in fruits such as apples, bananas and avocados—from the air in storage rooms, refrigerated trailers and shipping containers.
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DCL’s technology is designed to extend shelf life and maintain product quality over long distances, without the use of sprays or chemicals. The result is a longer-lasting product arriving at stores.
“There’s a reduction in food waste, but also the opportunity to have lower costs in the food chain,” says Shazam Williams, technical director at DCL International. “You don’t want your fruit going to waste.”
This article was first published in Canadian Grocer’s May 2026 issue.
