Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/787641
28 FEBRUARY 15, 2017 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com it. To prevent damaged fruit, growers should fasten those fruiting limbs (greater than 9 inches long, greater than 10 mm in diameter or 3/8-inch caliper) to prevent them from being taken into the harvester. Very organized canopies, where all fruiting wood is fastened to wires (or is composed of very short bourse shoots or spurs) should be compatible with robotic har- vesting, regardless of whether they are vertical or angled canopies. The very narrow canopy provides much more uniform solar radiation (heat on fruit), light distribution and fruit distribution. A much higher portion of fruit can be ready for first pick in well balanced, ultra-narrow fruiting walls. However, random training, where only the more vertical leader is fastened to wire, is more challenging. In addition, for the robotic harvester to have the best access to fruit, wires may need to be outside the posts and the trees outside the wires, contrary to how angle canopy blocks have evolved in recent years. Mechanical pruning appears to be a very quick and consistent method of minimizing problem wood pro- truding into the drive row. In the longer perspective, if the harvester can fit into 10-foot centers (plus or minus 1 to 2 feet, to be able to efficiently work in rows with vari- able widths of 8 to 12 feet), then vertical systems could be considered to utilize mechanical pruning, thinning and harvesting technologies. Future synergies If a robotic harvester with bin filling can function in older 10-foot centers, the opportunity to nearly fully automate the apple and pear industries is at hand. That may require planting systems that utilize two- or three- leader trees spaced at 18 to 30 inches between vertical leaders depending mostly on the vigor/growth habit of the scion; more vigorous, tip-bearing varieties will require more space. Two leaders per tree at 18 inches between leaders will place stumps 3 feet apart; three leaders at 26 inches will place stumps 6.5 feet apart. One key to remember: As the distance between leaders increases and the number of leaders per stump increases, the development of a uni- form canopy can become increasingly difficult. PHOTO COURTESY TOM AUVIL This third-leaf Cripps Pink block — with three leaders per rootstock trained vertically over three horizontal wires, guided by string — has fruiting sites all along the vertical leaders. This crop was expected to exceed 60 bins per acre. Post Harvest Ozone Solutions Based On Science & Engineering University & Industry Proven Ozone Solutions for: • Storage Room Sanitation • CA Storage Gaseous Fruit Treatment • Packing Line Aqueous Fruit Treatment • Facility & Environmental Sanitation • Out Performs PAA, Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide