Today is Tuesday December 19th and The AGTV Network continues to look at equipment used for produce. Today’s look is at strawberries.
An example of the traditional method
EasyPick Harvest Assistant
‘EasyPick-where laying down on the job is a good thing.’
The EasyPick Harvest Assistant was originally designed for use on our own farm,Naber’s Produce Farm located in east-central Nebraska where we grow 5 acres of strawberries.
Back in 1996 we were looking for a way to move more quickly through the field for strawberry blossom removal work and it was at that time strictly a time issue for us. It didn’t take long however, to realize the benefits we would see by using the same machine for harvesting strawberries.
Most horticultural enterprises’ single, biggest line item expense is typically labor. Anything we can do to reduce labor costs by making our employees more efficient and productive can make a big difference in our bottom line at the end of the season.
In 1998 we created the first true ‘EasyPick’ type machine specifically designed to aid in strawberry harvesting operations. Our goal in creating the machine was to eliminate as much work done in the bent over or kneeling position as possible and to enable the picking trays/cartons to move through the field with the pickers, which in turn, would enable employees to work all day with the same energy and enthusiasm as when they start the day, thereby increasing daily output without increasing labor costs or the complaints of physical strain on the body.
The endeavor was a success right from the beginning, however, we have made many improvements to the original design, based on our own experiences in the field, which have helped to further increase productivity.
Here are some of the key features applicable to all models:
- The EasyPick Harvest Assistant operates in all weather conditions allowing strawberry picking to continue uninterrupted, meanwhile protecting harvesters from the rain or the effects of the harsh sun.
- Now you can make strawberry harvesting, or many other tasks, much easier by eliminating the back breaking strain put on you or your employee’s bodies, increasing productivity and reducing your liability for repetitive motion injury.
- Since the containers move continuously through the field with the picking crew, you increase harvest productivity. One person can periodically unload product from the machine and transport to the cooler while your strawberry pickers keep harvesting nonstop.
- Harvest the same volume of crop while saving up to 30% on labor costs.
- The task of finding help becomes much easier since potential employees know they won’t be out in the hot sun or in the rain and they won’t be constantly bent over in the field. We’ve observed that using this machine actually helps slower employees work at a pace much closer to that set by top performing employees.
- EasyPick is versatile, in addition to being a strawberry picker carrier, it can also be used when setting plants in the beds, weeding, blossom removal, asparagus harvesting, snap bean harvesting, cucumber harvesting, virtually any place where you have row or bed planted crops that require you to bend or kneel to maintain or harvest.
- EasyPick’s usefulness in plant setting is worth mentioning again. If you are planting plugs or dormant plants in a plasticulture setting, then this machine will make a difference for you. We’ve found it to be particularly useful for planting onions plants/slips on plastic. (4 lines of plants per bed spaced 6″ apart and 6″ in-row spacing.)
- Field tested in all conditions, and proven to perform to expectations. Our first machine went to work in 1996 with improvements being developed over 13 years of actual in field conditions.
- Our machines are designed and built to last, which is one reason we now use planetary, or worm gear final drives, (instead of cheaper chain drives which require more maintenance and are prone to failure, especially when working in wet or muddy conditions).
Specifications
Final Drive Assembly
We use this heavy duty final drive assembly on all machines except the Harvest Buddy which uses heavy duty irrigation type worm gearboxes.
EasyPick machines are custom manufactured to any size you want from 2 station on up. General pricing information is available for most models, for specialized machines we can usually give you a quote within 2 weeks. Give us a call to obtain pricing information and current order lead times.
Special notes:
The EasyPick Harvest Assistant is custom built to fit your needs. We build on order only, due to the fact that every grower has different requirements.
Orders still being accepted subject to current stock on hand.
Humble Beginnings in 1996.
Please place your orders early as we normally only manufacture the EasyPick line from November thru April, so plan ahead!
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EasyPick 400 Series Harvest Assistant ‘EasyPick-where laying down on the job is a good thing.’ The 400 Model series is designed for the grower with more than 1 acre of strawberries or other crops to harvest. If you typically have more than 2 people harvesting your crop on any given day, then the 400 series may be for you. Specifications
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Click on the picture above to download a short 20 second clip of harvesting in action. Windows Media Player recommended.
Our thanks to the folks at Bi-Zi Farms of Washingtion for providing the video.
Give us a call for pricing, order lead times, or custom requirements at the phone numbers listed below.
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EasyPick ‘Harvest Buddy’ ‘EasyPick- where laying down on the job is a good thing.’ The ‘Harvest Buddy’ was a new introduction for the 2006 season. The 2 station machine is a popular model for those growers with smaller acreages to harvest, however, the basic ‘Economy’ model with it’s single front wheel drive has some limitations when operating in muddy fields, particularly those with heavy, slower draining soils. We all know that strawberry harvesting, (and other crop harvesting as well), needs to continue virtually uninterrupted regardless of whether the field is muddy or dry. With the introduction of the ‘Harvest Buddy’ we can now offer the 2 station EasyPick machine in a 2 wheel drive model that will handle those wet fields much better and yet is affordable for the smaller farm. As with all the EasyPick models, the ‘Harvest Buddy’ makes harvesting a much more pleasant task and if you are utilizing employees to harvest your crop, we’re going to save you some money. Specifically, when picking strawberries, we’ve seen labor savings of up to 30% on our own farm. Not only will strawberry picking become easier and less expensive, but you will find ways for the EasyPick machines to help you with other tasks as well. EasyPick machines are commonly used for weeding, transplanting strawberry plants and onion slips, asparagus harvesting, cucumber harvesting, snap bean harvesting and the like.
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Standard 2 row Model.
Specifications for the Harvest Buddy
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9 hp. recoil start engine. Briggs & Stratton Vanguard is our engine of choice, but customers can request Honda as well.
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2 wheel drive.
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Heavy duty worm gear wheel drive, no chains to maintain or break.
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Hydrostatic propulsion, single lever speed and direction control.
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Manual hydraulic steering control.
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2 independently adjustable work stations for all row spacings. Up to 4 work stations on row spacings 48″ or less. Can also be fitted with twin workstations to allow 4 people to harvest 2 crop beds that are spaced 60″ apart or wider.
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Adjustable row spacing from 36 to 72 inches on center.
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Low profile, fits in well ventilated high tunnels.
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Each work station comes with a moveable picking tray that can be custom sized to fit your harvest containers.
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Work stations also come with removable storage trays underneath the work bed for storing filled harvest containers.
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Canopy is now standard equipment on all models.
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Every EasyPick machine is customizable to fit any particular growers unique requirements.
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Special option for growers with 48″ or narrower row spacing. The Harvest Buddy can be fitted with 4 workstations. (See pictures to the right).
How about a less traditional method
Strawberry Picking Robot
Technology is constantly advancing. In fact, one might consider the “boom” in technological advances to have continued unabated since the Industrial Revolution. While most home gardeners still grow their strawberry plants they way they have for centuries, the commercial strawberry industry has corralled their own technological advances throughout the years. The specialized equipment that is currently widespread automates many of the strawberry-specific cultivation tasks. Technology allows for mounded rows with targeted irrigation and plastic mulch. To see videos of said technology in action, view the post on growing strawberry plants commercially.
One of the latest advances in strawberry farming was developed with funds from the California Strawberry Commission: a strawberry picking robot. While the strawberry picking robot is nowhere near ready to eliminate strawberry picking jobs, it may eventually increase productivity while decreasing labor costs by automating the most time-intensive aspect of strawberry farming: picking the strawberries.
The Idea for a Strawberry Picking Robot
The inspiration for the specific strawberry picking robot featured in this post (yes, there are others around that are less impressive and less advanced) was found in a seemingly unrelated contest. The DARPA Grand Challenge (a competition for the development of driverless cars) prompted the formation of Robotic Harvesting, LLC by the California Strawberry Commission. “After all,” thought the organizers, “if cars can navigate hundreds of miles of roads, why can’t a robot navigate a few inches to pick a strawberry?”
Once the idea found wings (and funding), the new company was helped by researchers linked to UCLA, Caltech, and Cornell. With the help of some very intelligent people, the strawberry picking robot moved from imagination to prototype.
Strawberry Picking Robot: Technology
The technology used by the strawberry picking robot is impressive. The automated process is made possible by using a stereo vision camera (basically allowing the robot to “see” in 3D like humans can) to discern where the strawberries are. Then, specialized software quickly analyzes them to differentiate ripe from unripe berries. Next, the robotic arm is extended to the analyzed strawberry where its three fingers clamp the strawberry, pluck it from the strawberry plant, and deposit it onto a conveyor belt
The combination of the stereo camera and the advanced software improves dramatically on agricultural robots of decades past. Automated harvesting robots have been a sought-after prize since the 1980s. Back then, however, the software and computational ability of the computers were much too slow to be viable. Now things are different. The speed at which processes can be computed makes a strawberry picking robot like this less fantasy and more reality.
In fact, in controlled environments, the strawberry picking robot can rapidly and accurately pick strawberries in as little as two seconds.
The technology of the strawberry picking robot has three main components. First, the strawberry data collector collects information about the location of the strawberries by scanning both above and below the strawberry leaf canopy. Second, the mobile platform moves at a programmable rate and serves as support for the picking arm and harvested strawberries/supplies. And, thirdly, the stereo vision camera which provides the required “visual” data to the arm so it can pick the correct strawberries.
Challenges for the Strawberry Picking Robot
Strawberry picking robots are not ready for the mainstream just yet. Indeed, despite the tremendous technological advances and uses found within the strawberry picking robot, there are still things that this strawberry robot still needs help accomplishing. There are certain concerns that need to be addressed.
1. Selectivity
The strawberry picking robot does a flawless job in the controlled environment of a laboratory. The real world isn’t quite as clean. Despite being able to look under leaves, anyone who has picked strawberries knows that some of them are hard to find. They nestle behind and under leaves and stems. The strawberry picking arm may have difficulty choosing strawberries that are hard to reach with its large mechanical arm. Plus, there is still the possibility that rotten or diseased berry is accidentally placed with the rest of the berries (although the software is supposed to reduce or eliminate these errors).
2. Force
Strawberries bruise easily. If you have watched the videos above, you have seen the snap grabbing of the berries. The force can be programmed into the motion. However, some berries don’t release from the plant as easily as others. The grip and firmness of the harvesting could damage the berry or plant if the strawberry picking robot holds on too firmly. Or, the strawberry could slip from its grasp if the grip is not firm enough.
3. Cost
Finally, there is a cost factor associated this this or any purchase of farm equipment. New and advanced technology is rarely cheap. But if you are interested in trialing the machine for your strawberry farm or would like more information, you can email Robotic Harvesting, LLC at info@roboticharvesting.com or call them at (805) 231-0541. Additionally, their website ishere.
Future Strawberry Picking Robots
The future will likely bring more and more refined adaptations to this spectacular robot (and maybe even the development of other strawberry picking robots). The likely next step for the Robotic Harvesting, LLC prototype is the inclusion of multiple picking arms. Think of the improvement with, say, four rapidly picking arms mounted under the mobile platform.
The problems mentioned above are also likely to be solved through additional technological innovations or refinements. Should strawberry picking robots strike fear into your heart for some reason, you will always be able to go strawberry picking at a pick your own strawberry farm near you. But, the chances are good that a strawberry picking robot will perfectly pick the strawberries you buy at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Lots of technology to keep those delicate berries in prime condition.