01/26/07 Automating Cherries

Automating Cherries. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Like most fruit production, cherry farmers are looking into ways of streamlining and saving dollars. One way is by automating the picking of the cherries. WHITING: This is a program we initiated about 4 years ago. We partnered with USDA's ARS to evaluate a prototype mechanical harvester that they had developed by the Ag engineer by the name of Don Peterson. Don Peterson has since retired and we moved their prototype harvester to Prosser where we have continued to test its efficacy and its potential for mechanical harvest of fresh market quality sweet cherries. WSU's Dr. Matt Whiting say the harvester itself is pretty much complete so now they are looking at the mechanics of the orchard. WHITING: Now the research questions that are important revolve around the canopy, the architecture or as I often call it, matching the biology now with technology that exists so we're looking at different training system; how to manipulate canopy structure to fit very well with the harvester to improve efficiency of the harvester and get a complete harvest by machine. Whiting says they are also looking at the fruit quality once it has been harvested mechanically. WHITING: Looking at things like bruising, pitting, stem end tears, any other kinds of physical damage that may be inflicted by the harvester. Up next, more on automating the cherry harvest. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.