Produce label printer and applicator

An apparatus for printing and applying label on produce being transported on a conveyance system, comprising:

• a. A label supply for supplying unprinted or partially printed labels mounted on a substrate tape;
• b. A printer for receiving the labels from the label supply and printing content on the labels pertaining to the produce being transported at an operational rate of a maximum specific number of labels per unit time;
• c. An accumulator receiving the printed labels from the printer;
• d. An applicator receives the labels from the accumulator, removes the labels from the substrate tape and applies the removed labels on the produce as the produce is being transported by the conveyance system at an operational rate of a maximum specific number of labels per unit time which is a different rate than the maximum rate that the printer can print content on labels;
• and
• e. Wherein the accumulator receives labels from the printer, temporarily stores a variable number of labels that have been printed by the printer and supplies the stored labels as needed to the applicator to compensate for the difference in the operational rates of the printer and the applicator.