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Artificial Intelligence and Automation Are Transforming the Global Fresh Produce Industry
The FRUIT LOGISTICA Trend Report 2026 reveals how AI is reshaping global fruit and vegetable supply chains and accelerating change across the entire sector.
Artificial intelligence and automation are revolutionizing every stage of the global fruit and vegetable supply chain – from production and logistics to retail. The newly released FRUIT LOGISTICA Trend Report 2026, titled Ctrl+Alt+Refresh, explores how emerging technologies are driving efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across the fresh produce industry. The title itself symbolizes a “system reboot” – a global fresh produce sector that is faster, smarter, and more sustainable thanks to AI.
Produced by Fruitnet Media International in partnership with FRUIT LOGISTICA, the report combines exclusive survey data with real-world case studies from leading companies and innovators worldwide.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental – it’s essential,” says Mike Knowles, Managing Director of Fruitnet Europe and author of the report. “The fresh produce business is undergoing a complete transformation as technologies become more useful, accessible, and intelligent. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind.”
AI in Action – From Farm to Retail Shelf
Across production, logistics, and retail, artificial intelligence is already delivering measurable impact. Smart greenhouses, predictive crop modeling, and autonomous robotics are improving yield consistency and reducing waste. In logistics and retail, AI-driven analytics are optimizing demand forecasting, cold chain management, and shelf-life control.
Dole has implemented AI tools for forecasting, crop monitoring, and quality control, significantly improving efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
“Anywhere in the business where there are large volumes of data, AI provides opportunities to streamline, accelerate, and report,” explains Drew Reynolds, Technical and Sustainability Director at Dole. “Crop forecasting – and aligning that forecast with packaging, shipping, and sales – could be revolutionary.”
Clarifresh uses AI to automate and standardize quality control across the supply chain, helping producers cut waste and improve accuracy.
“The impact is twofold,” explains Elad Mardix, CEO and co-founder. “It doubles inspector productivity and expands sample size by 50–100%, while reducing waste or claims by 25–35% through more objective, standardized quality control. These results have been reported by three major customers in North and Latin America, including leading citrus, grape, and berry exporters.”
Agriplace applies AI to simplify compliance and transparency in global supply chains by extracting and structuring data from supplier documents.
“We leverage AI to scan and extract relevant data from documents within minutes – a process that used to take weeks of manual work,” says Nico Broersen, CEO of Agriplace. “This blend of human expertise and automation not only accelerates onboarding but also ensures supply chain data remains structured and trustworthy over time.”
A Connected and Predictive Future
Industry leaders surveyed for the report foresee rapid progress in autonomous harvesting, non-destructive quality analysis, and cold chain optimization. A recurring challenge is data interoperability – building systems that can securely connect and share insights across the supply chain.
“Smart agri + smart logistics + smart merchandising = a super-smart food system,” the report concludes. “The Ctrl+Alt+Refresh button has been pressed – the system is rebooting.”
FRUIT LOGISTICA Trend Report 2026 – Now Available
The FRUIT LOGISTICA Trend Report 2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the technologies and strategies shaping the future of the fresh produce industry.
The report is now available for free download:
Download the FRUIT LOGISTICA Trend Report 2026
FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 will take place from 4 to 6 February 2026 in Berlin, presenting the latest innovations, logistics solutions, and technologies shaping the global fresh produce trade.
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