The latest research report from the Project Harvest tracking study has highlighted that with the increasing convenience of smartphone and touchscreen technology, early adopter retail stores overseas are trialling trolleys with tablet computers embedded in the handle that can display product information and help shoppers find products in-store.

“Previous Project Harvest research has shown us that there’s a wide range of in-store information that consumers would find helpful when they’re making food purchases, and innovative technology use could help give shoppers what they’re after,” said AUSVEG spokesperson, Shaun Lindhe. “These global trends in technological innovations could be brought to Australian stores to assist consumers and respond to Australian shoppers’ increasing demand for information about their food purchases.”

 “When it comes to fresh vegetables, for example, more than half of all Australian consumers would like more information about how long their food will be fresh for, or when the vegetable they’re holding was harvested,” he added. “They’re also interested in more information on how to properly store their vegetables to get the best shelf-life, or how to tell if a vegetable is fully ripe.”

“In the future, retailers could integrate batch tracking technology and interactive in-store displays to tell Australian shoppers exactly when a crop was harvested and how long it will stay fresh if stored properly, ensuring consumers get the most out of their vegetable purchases.”

Other technological trends in global retail are looking to make the overall shopping experience more convenient, including the now-familiar online shopping offered by major supermarkets, or more novel ‘smart shopper’ systems which let consumers scan barcodes in-store or at specialised kiosks and have products delivered directly to their home.

“With these innovative new retail options coming to the fore thanks to technological advancements, we’re excited to see what the future holds for fresh vegetable retail,” Lindhe said.