Ross Lund, 866-535-9303, rosslund@hughesequipment.com
Todd Belz, 920-623-2000 ext. 106, toddbelz@hughesequipment.com
Columbus, Wis. – Food processing equipment manufacturers are increasingly under
pressure to alter designs of large-scale machinery to accommodate new varieties of
fruits and vegetables developed through plant breeding.
At the same time, increased consumer demand for fresh market, organic and ethnic
produce is creating a need for more flexible and smaller versions of standard food
processing equipment, and for equipment that handles crops more gently and that, at
times, involves more field trash.
The scenario requires a balancing act for food processing equipment manufacturers
who need to satisfy large commercial processors’ needs for ever greater operating
efficiency with the increasingly important small processing operations that serve niche
markets, said Ross Lund, president of Hughes Equipment Company, a Wisconsin-
based international manufacturer of food processing equipment.
A plant breeding expert sees no slowdown in vegetable plant breeding, which suggests
processing equipment will need continual design changes as new crops are introduced.
And as market sectors that favor foods perceived to be more natural, processors will
continue to be challenged by the special handling needs of that produce.
Hughes Equipment Company has been following the trends and accomplishments of
plant breeding, and has released a white paper on the factors surrounding the issue and
the implications for food processing manufacturers.
Download the report via:
http://www.hughescompany.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Impact_of_Plant_Breeding.pdf
