Status of USDA specialty crop research initiative blueberry harvest mechanization research project

Authors: Takeda, Fumiomi

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2019
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Citation: Takeda, F. 2019. Status of USDA specialty crop research initiative blueberry harvest mechanization research project. Proceedings of Conferencja Borowkowa 2019. p. 66-74.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have modified the over-the-row (OTR) mechanical blueberry harvester to reduce impact damage. With these modifications, as much as 92% of blueberries harvested by rotary drum shakers and collected on a soft catching surface were sorted as fresh market pack-out. Generally, fresh market pack-out percentage, fruit firmness, and extent of bruise damage was slightly to moderately worse than hand-harvested fruit. New sensor technologies have enabled packers to sort blueberries into different bruise categories. High fresh-market pack-out percentages achieved by our prototype blueberry harvesters in 2017 and 2018 were significant improvements over those achieved by commercial OTR harvesters. Currently, we are redesigning the fruit catching surfaces to reduce impact damages and replacing non-food grade neoprene sheets with FDA-listed materials for use with food. The plan is to have the redesigned OTR harvester with rotary shakers ready for research in 2019 and compare fruit quality with those harvested by conventional OTR harvesters. We will begin in April in Florida by harvesting southern highbush blueberries using a modified Oxbo 8440. On the West Coast, northern highbush blueberries will be harvested with a modified Oxbo 7440 in California, Oregon, and Washington.