16 MAY 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com
W
hen the first of the Columbia Gorge's
sweet cherries come off the trees, Mt.
Adams Orchards Corp., will begin
using its new packing equipment in
Dallesport, Washington.
Their neighbors across the Columbia River — Orchard
View in The Dalles, Oregon — will do the same.
Both cherry companies have invested millions of
dollars in 48 lanes each equipped with optical equip-
ment that uses near-infrared technology to sort fruit by
size, firmness, color and defect. The gear, once a new
Optical lines
are growing
Cherries
Upgrades using near-infrared
technology to sort fruit
are necessary to keep
pace with the industry.
by Ross Courtney
Workers install a cherry processing line that will feature optical
©2016
Meadow
Creature,
LLC
MeadowCreature.Com
®
Or Give Us a Call
360-329-2250
MAKE CIDER
WITH EASE
-
-
MEADOW
CREATURE ®
Commercial quality
at a family price–the
AVALON
®