How to approach food processing issues with calm focus

Jun 02, 2023

Every food and beverage processing business needs to focus on specific issues, opportunities and challenges. One effective approach to do this is with a calm focus on priorities.

Retailers want to work with processors focused on how they can get the work done, as opposed to why they can’t.

Everyone has endured years of upheaval and challenges due to the pandemic, striving to get products made. Now, retailers want to work with processors focused on how they can get the work done, as opposed to why they can’t.

If you consider the retailers’ roller coaster ride, more of their time in the last few years was focused on the problems. Their supply chain teams weren’t celebrating the products on the shelves. Instead, they focused on the holes on the shelves and how to get inventory. In their merchandising teams, they weren’t complimented for prices that stayed the same. Rather, they were criticized for either negotiating too hard or gouging consumers with inflation.

Food and beverage processors had to find new ingredient sources, change packaging and deal with labour shortages.

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Video: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.