Looking for Ag Innovators

The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) will bring back it's popular Tech Innovation Pitch competition when it hold its 5th Annual Conference in February.

Spokeswoman Marilyn Bay Drake says the Association has solicited ideas from a variety of startup companies that are innovating ag tech solutions to meet the demands and challenges of growers, shippers and fresh food processors.

"Any companies that are doing research, whether they are on the market and just wanting to expand or they're still in the research stage those kinds of companies can apply to be in our Tech Pitch."

CFVGA President Robert Sakata, Sakata Farms, said they're looking for agricultural production technology that will help Colorado produce growers work better and that includes but is not limited to ideas for labor saving, increased water availability and produce safety.

The conference February 25th and 26th in Denver attracts about 300 participants, with over 35 exhibitors and more than 40 of the most innovative produce farms in Colorado.

The company Augean Robotics won last year in the audience favorite category with a robotic harvest cart that follows a harvester, hauls product to a drop off point and returns to the harvester on its own.