Latest news with #KevinBrooks
Business Wire
12-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Procurant and Fusionware Launch Seamless Integration to Accelerate Digital Transformation in Perishables Supply Chain
WATSONVILLE, Calif. & IDAHO FALLS, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Procurant, a modern procurement and order management platform built for the perishables industry, and Fusionware, an advanced ERP and operations platform for produce agriculture, today announced the launch of a seamless integration that brings unprecedented automation and visibility to fresh food supply chains. "With this integration, Fusionware customers can streamline their operations, reduce overhead and get instant access to an expanding network of trading partners — no middleware, no duplication, no delays." The new integration enables produce suppliers to eliminate manual order entry, reduce EDI complexity and gain real-time synchronization of orders, inventory and shipments across systems. By connecting Fusionware's ERP solution directly to the Procurant network of retailers and foodservice buyers, customers can now accelerate onboarding, ensure regulatory compliance and improve operational agility without the need for costly custom integrations. 'We're enabling a single connection that unlocks digital commerce across the supply chain,' said Kevin Brooks, Chief Revenue Officer at Procurant. 'With this integration, Fusionware customers can streamline their operations, reduce overhead and get instant access to an expanding network of trading partners — no middleware, no duplication, no delays.' 'Agricultural operations are increasingly dependent on interoperability and speed,' added Creg Fielding, CEO of Fusionware. 'Our collaboration with Procurant brings those capabilities directly into the daily workflows of growers, packers and shippers. The result is faster response times, greater data accuracy and a foundation for future automation.' Purpose Built for Perishables The collaboration between Procurant and Fusionware is specifically designed to meet the time-sensitive demands of the perishable goods industry, where shipment delays and data errors can result in costly losses. The joint solution delivers: Real-time synchronization of purchase orders, confirmations and shipment data Automated compliance with trading partner requirements Faster order-to-cash cycles and fewer manual touchpoints Early adopters, including Hagerman Canyon Farms and Fresh-Pik Produce Inc., report improved visibility, reduced labor and tighter coordination between procurement and fulfillment. 'The data now flows automatically between systems, which means we spend less time keying in orders and more time getting product out the door,' said Candice Hill, Operations Manager at Hagerman Canyon Farms. 'It's a huge win for efficiency and accuracy.' For more information about how Procurant and Fusionware are transforming fresh food supply chains, visit and About Procurant Procurant provides a modern, cloud-based platform for perishable goods procurement, enabling buyers and suppliers to collaborate in real-time while ensuring food safety, order accuracy and supply chain transparency. Learn more at About Fusionware Fusionware is a comprehensive ERP and data integration platform built specifically for produce agriculture. From field to shipment, Fusionware helps growers, packers and logistics providers digitize operations, optimize workflows and gain insight across the supply chain. Learn more at
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Windblown dirt from Illinois farm fields caused Illinois dust storm, expert explains
Chicago has been hit with some strange weather this month, in particular the historic dust storm on Friday evening. Now that the dust has settled, many are wondering just how and why such an out-of-the-ordinary weather phenomenon happened. The dust blanketed downtown Chicago last Friday — leaving people with filthy cars and with big questions on social media. "A dust Strom in Illinois? I don't know," said Ana Ibarra in a TikTok video. "I feel like in my 29 years of life, I've never heard of a dust storm in Illinois." The dust that hit Chicago was windblown from farm fields in Central Illinois. Video shot by University of Illinois Extension farm management educator Kevin Brooks along Interstate 74 showed motorists cautiously pulling over before driving into near-blackout conditions. "Yes, it was dry. Yes, it was windy," Brooks said. "But those winds weren't that unusual." Brooks has been cautioning the farming community about some of the factors that contribute to such powerful dust storms. "What's changed in the last 10 years is the speed of farming," he said. Brooks said the severity of dust storms is increasing, and can be traced back to technological advances in farm machinery and the speed of tilling soil — which leaves fields bare and dirt loose. "It creates a powder, and if you put powder in your hand and blew it, you'd have powder all over the place," said Brooks, "and that's what's happening with the dust storm." Not only are dust storms a risk to air quality — they can also be deadly. In 2023, eight people were killed when dust from farm fields blew onto I-55 near Springfield, causing dozens of cars to pile up. As for this most recent dust storm, Brooks said it is significant that dust made its way all the way to the city. "With those winds, I found it absolutely amazing that it could do that," he said. Brooks, who also manages farms, admits that it can be hard to get farmers to change their ways — especially when it comes to their bottom line. But he encourages farmers to consider reducing or even eliminating tilling, and also to consider adding cover crops to help the soil.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Procurant Expands Retail Grocery Connections for Perishable Goods Suppliers
Expansion offers suppliers a cost-effective and compliant solution for order management and FSMA 204 related information. WATSONVILLE, Calif., March 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Procurant, a leading collaborative software platform for retail grocers, today announced a major expansion of its network of retail grocery connections, now available to all suppliers on the Procurant platform. Additionally, perishable goods suppliers currently trading with these retailers can connect via Procurant's EDI or API solutions, offering a more cost-effective and streamlined way to manage orders and invoices, and to comply with increasing regulatory data requirements. This expansion introduces seamless digital connections to some of the largest and most influential grocery and foodservice retailers, including: ALDI Associated Grocers of New England Costco Gelson's H-E-B Stater Bros. Target Trader Joe's US Foods Wakefern WinCo "With these new retail connections, Procurant is helping suppliers reduce costs and consolidate their sales activity for smoother transactions and fewer order errors. They now have a more affordable, flexible and modern alternative to outdated EDI systems to better serve their customers and more easily comply with FSMA 204 traceability requirements," said Kevin Brooks, Chief Revenue Officer, Procurant. Key benefits for suppliers include: More Retail Connections, Fewer Errors – Consolidate transactions with leading retailers and foodservice companies to save costs and reduce errors through Procurant's secure digital platform. Cost-Effective EDI Alternative – Avoid the high support costs and inefficiencies of legacy EDI solutions while improving order and invoice management. FSMA 204 Compliance Made Easy – Handle FSMA 204-related traceability requests from multiple retailers through a single connection, reducing complexity and ensuring compliance. Flexible Integration Options – Choose between Procurant's web-based platform, API, or EDI to match business needs. For more information or to get started, visit About Procurant Procurant provides a software platform for retail grocers, foodservice organizations and their perishable goods suppliers to collaborate, transact business and manage food safety across the supply chain. From farm to store, Procurant provides the visibility, accuracy and actionable insights that food industry professionals need to ensure quality, safety and efficiency every step of the way. For more information visit View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Brooks, 669-221-6428 | media@ Sign in to access your portfolio
