Four Growers, an innovative agricultural technology startup based in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, is revolutionizing the farming industry with its cutting-edge technology. Since its inception in 2017, the company has been making waves with its GR-100 robot and plant analytics platform, primarily focusing on harvesting cherry tomatoes. Now, Four Growers is extending its reach to include cucumber harvesting, opening up new possibilities for the application of their technology.
Brandon Contino, CEO of Four Growers, spoke about the company’s latest venture in a recent interview with Technical.ly. He highlighted the labor-intensive nature of cucumber harvesting and how the ongoing national farm labor shortage compounds the problem. This is where the GR-100 robot comes in, providing a much-needed solution. By expanding its capabilities to cucumbers, Four Growers aims to make produce more accessible and affordable.
Contino explains that the robot was designed not merely as a tomato harvester but as a multifaceted platform capable of handling multiple tasks across various crops. “When we started building the first application of tomato harvesting robotics, we built and designed everything in such a way that this wouldn’t be a tomato harvesting robot,” Contino said. “It was really a kind of an AI and analytics — and then robotics — platform that could do multiple different tasks and multiple different crops.”
In its initial stages, Four Growers considered starting with a vertical farm. However, they soon realized that this model would have led to higher running costs, thereby making produce more expensive for consumers rather than less. Contino and his co-founder did not believe they had the necessary skills to make a vertical farm sustainable. As a result, they decided to focus on a greenhouse model.
Four Growers’ team in Turtle Creek consists of 12 members, including directors of software and hardware, computer vision engineers, robotics engineers, and mechanical and electrical engineers. They also have two technicians working in the field daily. The company’s unique blend of electronics and computers expertise has enabled them to create an innovative solution that addresses a significant challenge in the farming industry.
The company’s innovative approach has attracted significant investment. To date, Four Growers has secured at least $7 million in venture capital funding, with more possibly on the way. They have also participated in the John Deere Startup Collaborative accelerator alongside Philadelphia-based agtech startup Burro, and the International Fresh Produce Association’s Fresh Field Catalyst program.
The expansion of Four Growers’ robot capabilities to cucumber harvesting is a significant step forward in the agtech industry. It showcases how programming languages and coding can be used to develop solutions that address critical issues in farming. The transition from cherry tomatoes to cucumbers also indicates the potential versatility of this technology, suggesting that it could be adapted for harvesting a wide range of fruits and vegetables in the future.
This development is not just a win for Four Growers but also for the broader electronics industry. It illustrates how technology can be leveraged to solve real-world problems, ultimately leading to improved efficiency and productivity. As Four Growers continues to innovate and expand its capabilities, it will undoubtedly become an even more significant player in the agtech industry.
