Coloma Farms, a fourth-generation operation with roots dating back to 1961, faced growing challenges with labor, particularly for physically demanding palletizing work. Although the Owner and the Packaging Manager had been packing 100-lb bags of potatoes, finding reliable workers willing to consistently stack 50‑lb bags of potatoes became nearly impossible, and the strain of repetitive lifting made retention difficult.  The farm reached a critical decision point about whether to continue packing potatoes at all. This instability made it difficult to plan workloads and maintain efficiency in an already tight labor market.

Implementing a palletizer transformed their operation by directly addressing labor and consistency issues. The machine eliminated reliance on unreliable manual labor, providing a dependable, always-available solution that allowed the team to confidently plan daily production. It also improved load quality and uniformity—producing tighter, more stable pallets.  This reduced product damage and helped ensure shipments meet buyer expectations. Additionally, the palletizer increased efficiency and revealed new opportunities for process improvements, allowing Coloma Farms to scale operations with greater confidence. Overall, the investment has streamlined workflows, reduced physical strain on workers, and brought consistency and reliability that manual stacking could not match.