News / Continuous Improvement at Furmano Foods - New Tomato Harvestor Doubles Yield

Continuous Improvement at Furmano Foods - New Tomato Harvestor Doubles Yield

“We can harvest over two times the amount of tomatoes in half the time it takes with a standard harvester.”

This year Furmano Foods will produce over 6 million cases of canned good products under the hands of its dedicated employees. That’s not bad for a company that started with 30 jars of canned tomatoes on a stovetop in rural Pennsylvania, 86 years ago. Maybe that’s because the Furmano Foods’ recipe for success includes ingredients like honesty, integrity, quality and exceptional service. The secret ingredient in the Furmano formula, however, is its people.

Our Philosophy - “We sincerely believe that the accomplishments of our company are a direct reflection of the interests and abilities of our people,” says David Geise, President and CEO of Furmano Foods. “We encourage them to participate and offer suggestions at every level of the operation. We believe that buildings, money and machines do not create a company but are merely tools which people use in the operation of the company.”

Recent Changes - A new addition to the farming operation at Furmano’s is a Pik Rite High Capacity 290 Tomato Harvester. “We purchased this harvester as a way to improve our harvesting process and gain better yields,” says Jim Kohl VP of Agricultural Operations, “We can harvest over two times the amount of tomatoes in half the time it takes with a standard harvester.” The machine decreases the number of people required to work it and provides sophisticated instrumentation in the operator’s cab to allow for a better yield when harvesting. In addition to the new harvester, Furmano’s has modified their production process both inside and outside the plant to provide a more efficient use of the production lines and a better work environment for their employees.

Continuous Improvement - “We are always looking for ways to improve how we do things at every step in the process. Furmano’s manufacturing philosophy is to integrate the use of cutting-edge technology with human workmanship. None of the Furmano Foods processing lines operate without the human touch,” says Geise. Furmano’s implements the latest technology to improve efficiency and produce cost savings it can pass along to consumers.

The Future – Furmano’s is committed to providing great tasting tomatoes to the Eastern United States for generations to come. Furmano’s is available in your local grocery store and can also be found at our newly opened Country Store, right across from the plant on Cannery Road in Northumberland. The entire product line is available including those hard-to-find items. The store is open Tuesdays from 7 am – 4 pm and Thursdays from 10 am – 6 pm. Furmano’s. Great taste is a family tradition.

Release Contact

Lori Engle
Furmano Foods
1-800-952-1111 ext 534
lori.engle@furmanos.com