The Future of Farm to Fork

    MINNEAPOLIS, MN, October 12, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- While the recent pandemic has certainly affected the grocery industry, The Minnesota Grocer's Association is saying, "the show must go on."

This includes the once live in-person "Great Grocery Get Together." This year they are 'retooling' the event and creating a webinar series. On October 13, the series will feature Futurist and author Jack Uldrich for a presentation and live Q & A session.

Back in 2008, Uldrich wrote a blog post on the future of grocery stores saying:

"With technology, it is sometimes easy to get ahead of reality. For instance, regarding the future of grocery stores, it is entirely possible to imagine how the confluence of wireless technology, RFID, robotics, and virtual reality technologies could lead to a future scenario whereby people will browse a "virtual" store aisle from the comfort of their home computer and their selections will be wirelessly transmitted to a robot in a large warehouse which fetches each item (using RFID). Those goods will then be delivered to the person's home."

That future he wrote about is, for better or for worse, here. "The shifts Grocers and growers alike made when Covid-19 struck took place at warp speed," says Uldrich. While the second part of Uldrich's prediction has yet to come to fruition, people are most certainly doing a great deal more virtual shopping and browsing for their food from the comfort of their own home.

From online ordering to delivery and curbside pick-up, life for consumers and workers has altered inexorably. Technologically speaking, the production is changing too, from stores banning plastic bags to fewer in-person shoppers. Grocers, farmers, and manufacturers are making massive adjustments.

Agility is key, according to Uldrich.

He welcomes the opportunity to discuss "Business as Unusual" with the Association because not only are they living it, it's what his latest book is all about. Helping his audience imagining things getting better is critical.

Just because you can't imagine it—doesn't mean others can't—and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is just one of the principles Uldrich foresees organizations leaning into not just to survive, but to thrive in the days, months, and years to come.

"We are all in this together," says Uldrich, "so getting together and talking about the issues facing the industry head-on is the best way to start things off. I am pleased to be speaking with this group and sharing my optimism and insight with them."

Futurist Jack Uldrich is a highly sought after keynote speaker. As the author of over eleven books, he regularly addresses businesses, associations, and non-profit organizations in the health care, retailing, energy, and education industries. He belongs to numerous speakers bureaus, including Leading Authorities, Washington Speakers Bureau, BigSpeak, and Gotham Artists. His latest book, Business as UNusual is expected to be released this Fall. To learn more about Jack Uldrich, his work, or his speaking availability, please visit JackUldrich.com.

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