Growth brings opportunities — and pressure. As demand increases and labor becomes harder to secure, many agricultural businesses face the same dilemma: how do you maintain quality without slowing production?
Thorlund Brothers Farms found themselves at this crossroads. Their potato-sorting process required significant manual labor, and inconsistencies in grading risked impacting product quality and customer satisfaction. Instead of patching the problem, they decided to rethink the system entirely.
Their partnership with Raytec Vision became a turning point. By integrating an advanced optical sorting solution, Thorlund Brothers Farms gained something far more powerful than extra capacity: they unlocked a new level of precision and control.
The change was immediate. With automated sorting, they no longer had to choose between speed and consistency. As the team highlights in the video, they saw a substantial increase in quality without sacrificing throughput. Tasks that once required hours of manual effort became streamlined, allowing staff to focus on higher-value activities. Waste was reduced, grading became more reliable, and the farm could confidently meet the rising standards of today’s market.
But the real story is bigger than a single piece of equipment. It’s about a mindset. Thorlund Brothers Farms shifted from “fixing a problem” to building a competitive capability. They recognized that technology isn’t just an operational tool — it’s a lever for growth, resilience, and long-term differentiation.
Their journey is a reminder to all producers and agri-business leaders: the moment to transform is often the moment things get difficult. When processes strain and pressure rises, innovation isn’t optional — it’s strategic.
By embracing smart automation, Thorlund Brothers Farms didn’t just improve sorting. They redefined what their business can deliver. And that’s a story worth paying attention to.