A conversation with the Bushel CEO, Jake Joraanstad
The best way to learn something is to do it.
A close second is to have conversations with smart, and ambitious people, who are working on solving hard problems. SFTW has given me the privilege to have some of these conversations, and I want to bring them to you.
Today, I am excited to launch a new feature called SFTW Interviews. It will be a lightly edited transcript of my conversations with AgriFoodTech leaders.
This will be available for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will get a preview. I will occasionally publish some SFTW interviews to free subscribers, to give you a taste of SFTW Interviews. Or you can subscribe to get the full version.
What are “SFTW Interviews"?
What and how do agrifood leaders think? What issues and challenges keep them up at night? What trends are they looking towards? How are they positioning their organizations to take advantage of and create new opportunities? What role does technology play? How can you benefit from their experience, and wisdom? Can you take some of their learnings and apply them to your organization?
SFTW Interviews will give you a peek into the thought process of AgriFoodTech leaders.
The SFTW Interviews are meant to be informal. The text version lets you go back and re-read certain sections.
SFTW Interviews is launching with a conversation with Jake Joraanstad, CEO of Bushel. Jake is from Fargo, North Dakota and is a veteran agrifood leader and a technologist at heart. The interview went into some unexpected directions. Read on to learn more!
Summary
Bushel is an early pioneer in AgTech. Bushel has built products for managing the “messy middle” of agriculture, including some acquisitions over the years. Bushel recently released their “2024 State of the Farm” report based on a survey of US farmers. I wanted to connect with Jake about the report and get an update on the latest with Bushel.
Jake Joraanstad, CEO of Bushel (Image provided by Bushel Marketing team)
In this conversation, Jake from Bushel discusses the complexities of the agricultural sector, particularly the 'messy middle' that exists between farmers and the market. He emphasizes the importance of technology and incentives in improving efficiency and transparency in agricultural transactions.
The discussion touches on the evolving expectations of farmers, particularly younger ones, who are increasingly looking for digital solutions that mirror their consumer experiences.