Bland Farms Invests in Innovation and Business with Production Expansion, Computer Monitoring System, and New Boxes for Shipment
GLENNVILLE, GA - I love a good reason to celebrate, and Bland Farms is welcoming a few changes to its operations as it continues to push innovation forward.
As one of the largest contributors to the Vidalia® onion crop, Bland Farms has expanded production outside of Georgia—venturing into Texas, California, Peru, and Mexico to respond to the rising demand for sweet onions. The growth in production is strategic in that the new partnerships will allow the company to supply sweet onions year-round.
In addition to the expanded production seen throughout the States and well beyond, the company is introducing a new computer monitoring system to manage temperature and humidity at storage facilities located in remote locations. Those managing the facilities will receive alerts on their cell phones notifying them when adjustments need to be made, according to a press release. Because of this notification system, the company is able to monitor its goods with seemingly unparalleled precision and make adjustments quickly.
Another change to Bland Farms’ operations is its use of a high-speed sorter to customize orders—which are programmed by weight, size, color, and external appearance—and fill orders on the same day that they are made. 20 pictures per onion, 10 per second, are taken by the machine in order to sort quickly and efficiently and meet customers’ needs.
Bland Farms has not lost its personal touch, quite literally, since planting and harvesting is still done by hand. However, the company has introduced bin boxes into the harvesting process, replacing 50 lb bags. The boxes are transported through the field to the facility by a forklift, which relays into less handling of the onions and, therefore, less bruising. To top it off, Bland Farms’ boxes don a high-graphic label, and its onions use PLU stickers to add just the right amount of pizazz.
As the company moves forward, it endeavors to innovate and carve out a path for itself within the industry, always setting itself apart from the pack with leadership and steadfast determination to meet customers’ needs and provide better quality with every step along the way.
More onions to use in dinnertime meals—and better, to boot? I’m crying happy tears!
