Technological milestone in potato grading
Wada Farms, a leading potato producer and supplier, has always been at the forefront of introducing new technologies to improve its operations. Their recent partnership with Ellips to introduce optical sorting technology has set a new standard in the industry. Kip Yates, vice president of Fresh Operations, notes that the project exceeded expectations from the initial planning phase through final production results, achieving return on investment (ROI) targets within the first year.
“In summary, this project exceeded our expectations from the initial planning stage through to final production results, including exceeding our ROI goals in the first year. All of our productivity, efficiency, quality and cost reduction goals were achieved,” Yates said.
Achieving the first stages and sustainable success
One of the remarkable achievements was achieving the first production milestone in the first 30 days of operation. This early success increased confidence in the new system, allowing Wada Farms to more effectively achieve its production and quality expansion goals.
“Within our first 30 days of operation, we achieved our first production milestone, achieving the throughput (i.e. pounds per hour) that we set for the end of the year. Early successes have built our confidence and enabled us to rely on the system to achieve our production and quality expansion goals,” added Yates.
Overcoming industry challenges through innovation
Wada Farms faced a number of challenges typical of the agricultural sector, such as labor availability, maintaining consistent quality, and meeting high customer standards. Traditional mechanical sizing and manual sorting methods limited sorting accuracy and operational capabilities. The introduction of optical sorting technology solved these problems:
- Reduced labor costs: The need for manual sizing and sorting has been reduced by 75%.
- Stability of quality. Increased operational flexibility and quality consistency have enabled Wada Farms to more effectively respond to customer demands.
- Increased productivity. Sorting productivity increased by more than 20%.
A bright future with constant innovation
Kip Yates praised Ellips Group for their exceptional work throughout the project, from design and installation to training and ongoing support. This partnership has laid a strong foundation for future achievements and growth.
“Ellips Group received five out of five stars and we have had the pleasure of working with a world class company. Any problems we face are hardly cause for concern because I am confident that together we will deal with them effectively. I fully expect that even improving performance will contribute to our continued growth,” Yates said.
About Wada Farms
Founded in 1943 by Frank Wada, Wada Farms has grown into one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fresh potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes. The company’s commitment to operational excellence and product leadership is demonstrated through its continued investment in technology and innovation. Wada Farms provides a one-stop solution for produce buyers and foodservice operators, leveraging more than 80 years of growing, packaging, shipping and marketing support.
Wada Farms’ successful implementation of optical sorting technology marks a significant advance in potato grading, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency, quality and productivity. This case illustrates how implementing innovative solutions can lead to impressive returns on investment and set the stage for future growth in the agricultural sector.
