Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/675334
18 MAY 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com technology that gave a packing house an advantage, is now becoming expected by buyers. "It's a new set of standards," said Don Gibson, presi- dent of Mt. Adams. Other packing houses in the Northwest are using sorters from other manufacturers this year, following the lead of still other companies that made similar invest- ments over the past four or five years, Gibson said. The two companies are the two largest packers in the Columbia Gorge, competing with packers in and around Yakima, Washington, for fruit grown in the area. Even at full capacity, the two packers could not pack all the cher- ries grown in the Gorge, Gibson said, though he declined to speculate a market share. The Dalles Fruit Co., a packing subsidiary of the Mt. Adams ownership group, has invested tens of millions of dollars over the past four years to expand the facility to a total of 64 lanes of near-infrared optical sorting, Gibson said. Mt. Adams formed The Dalles Fruit Co. in 2008 and completed the packing house in 2009, expanding in 2010 and 2014. The 2014 expansion added 16 lanes of optical sorting. The latest round added 48 more, making the facility one of the largest to use the sorting technology in the Northwest. The additional lanes should increase the plant's capacity by 50 percent to 600 tons per day, Gibson said. At times, The Dalles Fruit Co. receives 550 tons of cherries per day. "We have growers that have grown and we're growing with them," Gibson said. The latest improvements are scheduled to be ready for operation in time for the 2016 cherry season. Mt. Adams also packs apples and pears at its facilities in Bingen and uses the Dallesport buildings for cold stor- age for pears and apples. In The Dalles, Orchard View added the equipment to create packing consistency, better packouts and higher returns for all of its varieties, said Brenda Thomas, com- pany president. "I believe it's going to create a more consistent quality box of cherries," she said. The facility also includes a new water treatment system to cut down on the use of fungicides and a new post-packing rapid cooling system, she said. "It's the largest (monetary) investment we've ever made," Thomas said. Previously, the firm ran its Rainiers through a Red Pearl sorter and its dark sweets down a conventional, mechanical and hand-sorting line, she said. The extra capacity also will come in handy on days when the company suddenly needs higher throughput to keep up with picking ahead of rain, she said. In the past, supervisors would have had to scramble to call in extra workers. • Arnulfo Valdez, left, and Vasile Gado work on the installation at "We have growers that have grown and we're growing with them." —Don Gibson 800-392-6059 www.gillisons.com Double Topper & Hedger Dual Hedger Center Mount Topper & Hedger Top, hedge or skirt with the extensive line of rugged GVF hedgers. Heavy tubular steel construction with high tensile strength steel and rigid tractor mount. See them all at www.gillisons.com GVF Rough Terrain Forklifts These smooth operating, rugged lifts offer excellent visibility so you can get the job done quickly and comfortably. Available in four models including the all new 60" wide compact, Tier IV model! TIER IV FINAL! Find a dealer and see the full GVF line at: GVF 5000, 6000 & 8000 Available in 2WD or 4WD. GVF 4000 Available in 4WD. GVF Hedgers, Toppers & Skirters Specialty Orchard & Vineyard Equipment since 1977. CARRIER TRANSPORTS, INC. CARRIER TRANSPORTS, INC. CARRIER TRANSPORTS, INC. QUALIT Y FRUIT DESERVES A QUALIT Y RIDE! QUALIT Y FRUIT DESERVES A QUALIT Y RIDE! • New and used straddle trailers, all sizes. • Air-ride suspension conversions • Flatbed re-arching, re-decking, shortening and air hitches. • Hydraulic lift conversions. • New and used parts. • Repairs and custom fabrication. STRADDLE TRAILER MANUFACTURING AND REPAIR 509-452-0136 STRADDLE TRAILER MANUFACTURING AND REPAIR 1008 N. First Street • Yakima, WA 509-452-0136 After Hours: JIM KUNZ 509-949-5904 We now Repair and Rebuild Truck Drive Shafts ! We now Repair and Rebuild Truck Drive Shafts ! We now Repair and Rebuild Truck Drive Shafts !