Riveridge Produce adopts real-time inventory, field tracking technology to improve data management and food safety traceability

Sparta, Mich.  Riveridge Produce, Inc., has developed and implemented a retail-style, real-time inventory management system for use on its company-owned and -managed orchards, the packer announced today.

We have creative, technology-minded staff who borrowed some ideas from the retail sector and adopted them for use in Riveridge orchards, said Don Armock, CEO of Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc.

Similar equipment may be in use around the country, but ours was custom-adapted to be weather-proof and give us real-time data about whats coming in from the orchards on an hourly basis, Armock said. This innovation also strengthens our food safety traceability program by having our crew leaders input data for each bin harvested on hand-held wireless devices that communicate directly with our office computers.

Riveridge expects the technology to simplify recordkeeping for Michigans anticipated 30 million bushel crop, including providing better records for workers at harvest. Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., is a vertically integrated apple grower/packer/ shipper, selling apples in up to 26 states and a dozen foreign countries.