Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/418083
58 DECEMBER 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com 120 N. Naches Avenue Yakima, WA 98901 509.853.3000 1420 Fifth Avenue Suite 3000 Seattle, WA 98101 206.626.6000 stokeslaw.com Sustained success takes vision and teamwork. At Stokes Lawrence Velikanje Moore & Shore, we see each client's unique vision as the driving force of our legal practice. We have decades of experience working with agricultural clients and deep knowledge of the business and legal issues faced by growers, packers and distributors. Let's reach your goals together. Ryan Griffee | Ellen Jackson | Garon Jones | Brendan Monahan Andre Penalver | Sean Russel | Morrie Shore | George Velikanje Sarah Wixson | Dustin Yeager Realizing Your Vision an elephant ear fan that distributes them into the bin. An electric eye tells the bin when it needs to move down as the bin fills. The design was changed a year ago from tractor-pull to self-propelled on the Brownie Quad. The better mousetrap? Rasch believes workers will like his sys- tem better. Not only are there no ladders, there are no picking sacks and no carrying of apples. But the question of efficiency is not yet answered. "Everybody's guess- ing," Rasch said. A key question revolved around bin handling. The DBR machine fills one bin in about 10 minutes, then stops. The bin is lowered, a new bin is moved in from the trailer behind the harvester, and the trailer moves over the bin for recovery later with a fork lift. That gives workers about a one-minute break every 10 minutes, Brown said. The Huron machine fills five bins at once and the bins are changed out on the fly, while workers continue to pick into their picking sacks. All five bins are handled at once. There are no breaks. The platforms on the DBR machine are not fixed in position. They slide hydraulically in and out and move up and down. In inclement weather, workers on the DBR machine are protected by panels above the platforms; Huron workers are not. The DBR machine also has a tilt feature that keeps the platforms and the bin level on hillsides. There appears to be no difference in fruit quality between the two machines, although Brown says eliminating the picking bag and that transfer should favor the DBR. Both machines reduce bruising com- pared to conventional picking, he said. Both machines have one "extra" worker who serves as inspector, sorter, and trash remover looking over the bins as they fill. Both machines require a designated driver, but they are both pickers on a platform. Both machines turn sharply enough to return without skipping a row, but the Huron machine, with crab steering, turns somewhat sharper. The Huron system eliminates ladders but keeps picking sacks. PHOTOS BY RICHARD LEHNERT "What I really like about the DBR is getting the weight off the picker." —Mark Miezio Controlled pollination for tree fruits is an essential part of assuring an optimal set. Harry's Pollen Service utilizes only high quality pollen, genetic science, and pollination technology for providing the best possible mix specific to each fruit variety. Harry's Pollen Service is a proud dealer of Fusion 360, Inc.'s patented pollination technology SureSet-Apex. SureSet-Apex can increase set by increasing pollen tube growth rate, bee activity and flower mineral nutrition. CONTACT Harry's Pollen Service TODAY AT (509) 663-9995 For more information on Fusion 360's Technologies visit www.fusion360inc.com Pollen Application and Sales