1/6/09 Mechanizing the Orchard Part 3

Mechanizing the Orchard Part 3. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Developing a mechanized orchard has its problems. Having robots do some of the labor intensive chores is not far from a reality but keeping the human factor in the equation is very important. Vince Bryan with Picker Technologies feels there is a way to merge the two. BRYAN: Thus the design requirements; safety, gentleness and reliability. It ought to increase efficiencies by at least 250 to 500 plus percent. In field sorting of culls ought to be a part of this. Individual fruit should be traceable. Bryan also says ease of repair is also a high priority. The unit should provide multiple uses such as off season pruning and of course be affordable. BRYAN: To achieve this end a combined team have come together in an intense collaborative effort together to manufacture the first field ready prototype which fulfills all the design requirements previously mentioned. Picker Technologies has developed "Charlie" a field ready prototype that is still undergoing testing. BRYAN: We continue working with this. There are refinements going on. Charlie will leave this area shortly and pick up the process in the citrus groves very, very shortly and go from there. It will be interesting to see what of impact this kind of mechanization will have on the tree fruit industry. Keep listening. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.