Mechanical raspberry harvesting project

The mechanization of raspberry harvesting pursues a central objective: to increase operational efficiency and profitability by drastically reducing the cost of collection. In the traditional manual harvesting model, dozens of pickers are necessary per hectare during the peak season, which generates a high dependence on seasonal labor and difficult-to-control costs. With the use of suitable berry harvesters, this scenario changes radically: a 14.5 ha property that required 102 people for manual harvesting now needs only 5 operators when mechanized harvesters are implemented. The strategic objectives of the project are articulated in three main axes. Firstly, to improve production, achieving higher yields per hectare through the adoption of intensive varieties and optimized orchard designs. Secondly, to control costs, both labor and general operating costs. Thirdly, to ensure consistent quality of the fruit intended for industrial processing (IQF, pulps, and juices). The project ...