• Latest
  • Trending

Striving for perfection

May 24, 2022
Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

June 27, 2025
Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

June 26, 2025
Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

June 26, 2025
Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

June 25, 2025
How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

June 25, 2025
Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

June 24, 2025
Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

June 24, 2025
Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

June 23, 2025
Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

June 23, 2025
EU-UK Sugar Market Volatility: Weather Woes, Trade Shifts, and Pricing Pressures for 2025/26

EU-UK Sugar Market Volatility: Weather Woes, Trade Shifts, and Pricing Pressures for 2025/26

June 22, 2025
Top 10 Nutrient-Rich Leafy Greens to Boost Your Farm’s Productivity and Profitability

Top 10 Nutrient-Rich Leafy Greens to Boost Your Farm’s Productivity and Profitability

June 22, 2025
Kazakhstan’s Sugar Dilemma: Record Beet Harvest Meets Crumbling Processing Infrastructure

Kazakhstan’s Sugar Dilemma: Record Beet Harvest Meets Crumbling Processing Infrastructure

June 21, 2025
  • Company
Friday, June 27, 2025
Vegetables News
  • NEWS
    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

    Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

    Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

    Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

    Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

    Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

    How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

    How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

    Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

    Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

    Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

    Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

    Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

    Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

    Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

    Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Innovative Cherry Farming in Vorarlberg: High Yields, Smart Techniques, and Sustainable Practices

    Innovative Cherry Farming in Vorarlberg: High Yields, Smart Techniques, and Sustainable Practices

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

    Nectarine Market Surge: How Rising Demand and Seasonal Shifts Are Shaping the 2024 Season

    Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

    Bodensee Cherries 2025: High-Quality Protected Cultivation Sets the Standard for Sustainable Fruit Production

    Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

    Early Cherry Harvest in Lower Saxony: High Quality but Lower Yields – What Farmers Need to Know

    How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

    How Makro Spain Prevented 1,700 Tons of Food Waste in Just Over a Year – A Model for Agricultural Sustainability

    Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

    Peruvian Asparagus in Europe: Seizing the Seasonal Window for Export Growth

    Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

    Brazil’s Fruit Export Paradox: Why the World’s Third-Largest Producer Struggles to Dominate Global Markets

    Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

    Price Volatility in Vegetable Markets: Analyzing Trends in Muhana Mandi and Their Impact on Farmers

    Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

    Revolutionizing Onion Farming: How New Cold Storage in Pampanga is Reducing Losses and Boosting Profits

  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
    • All
    • Climate
    • Crop protection
    • digital (smart)
    • dron
    • Fertilizer
    • Research
    • weed
    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Digital Twins in Agriculture: How Virtual Farm Modeling Boosts Efficiency and Sustainability

    Innovative Cherry Farming in Vorarlberg: High Yields, Smart Techniques, and Sustainable Practices

    Innovative Cherry Farming in Vorarlberg: High Yields, Smart Techniques, and Sustainable Practices

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on Gujarat’s Onion Crop: Price Surge and Farmer Distress Loom

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    High-Residue Cover Cropping: A Viable Alternative to Plastic Mulch for Organic Vegetable Growers?

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    EU Pesticide Sales Hit 12-Year Low in 2023: What It Means for Modern Agriculture

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Why Do Grocers Cover Potatoes at Night? The Science Behind This Curious Practice

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Record-Early Potato Planting in 2024: Will It Lead to Higher Yields?

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Boosting Farm Efficiency: How Lean Technologies Are Transforming Agriculture in Altai

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

    Rising Temperatures Threaten Vegetable Farming in Maharashtra: Challenges and Solutions for Farmers

  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING
No Result
View All Result
Vegetables News
Home Processing

Striving for perfection

by Tatyana Ivanovich
May 24, 2022
in Processing
0

It may be true that you can’t fool Mother Nature.

But when it comes to sorting machinery for the produce industry, you can get the better of her.

And that’s what counts when it comes to striving to achieve as close to perfection as possible in fresh-cut produce sorting and cleaning technology around the world.

In 2010, management at Salinas, Calif.-based Western Harvesting made the decision to move toward automatic sorting for the company’s farm-fresh leaf products. Wanting technology that would meet their specific needs, they turned to BEST, a Belgian company that custom designs, develops and markets sorting machinery.

“BEST has never built the same machine twice because we have never found two identical production lines,” said Bjorn Thumas, BEST North American sales manager. “The company always comes up with a sorting machine that fits the exact sorting needs of every customer.”

Removing defects first
In Western Harvesting’s case, that meant equipment that also would improve its product before delivery to processing plants.

“By removing the defects before they reach the process line, we felt that our products would be safer, cleaner and our efficiencies would improve,” said Winston Crouse, Western Harvesting operations manager.

BEST’s ability to combine technolgies was the selling point for Western, which chose to install a BEST HELIUS 1200 mm sorter in its King City plant. Forty-eight inches wide, it can sort spring mix at rates up to 5,000 pounds per hour, and spinach at up to 8,000 pounds per hour. Last season, Western doubled its capacity by adding a second sorter.

In addition to on-site training, Western staff including Crouse participated in BEST-provided instruction in Denver, where BEST now has a complete manufacturing facility. Mike Parise, BEST’s sales representative in California, went along with Crouse to Belgium for the training.

“That made the training very effective for me, as both of us were working together with BEST staff to help us improve our lines,” Crouse said.

They even advance shipped what Crouse described as “some very challenging defects” to put the new equipment to the test.

Improving efficiency
Crouse said it works because of the patented BEST FLUO technology. Based on the fluorescent characteristics of the product, it creates a larger contrast to identify defects compared to conventional sorting technology.

“It obtains very high sorting efficiencies, along with very low false reject levels,” Crouse said.

The equipment’s free-fall laser principle permits front and rear inspection as the product passes the laser scan zone. In addition, its vertical inspection system allows the sorter to function for multiple shifts without getting dirty – that’s as opposed to belt-driven systems that use top and bottom optics and which Crouse said were difficult to keep clean and resulted in performance loss on these specific applications.

And Western’s goal of delivering a cleaner sorted product has also paid off at the processing plant. He said the sorters’ ability to remove mud and soil-covered leaf has resulted in a significant reduction in wash system bio loads, and a corresponding drop in chemical and water usage. Customer complaints about foreign objects have decreased by up to 98 percent.

“Applications include removal of all types of foreign objects and discolorations from lettuce and spinach – even from multicolor lettuce mixes such as spring mix, including very high efficiencies on the ever-difficult small tip burn and insects,” Crouse said.

Removing more of the defects before the process line has also enabled Western to grow into new markets that would have been closed to them in the past, Crouse said. Thumas noted that the equipment is just as effective with other types of produce.

“We are able to sort different types of lettuce, going from iceberg, chopped and shredded, to romaine, spring mix, watercress, rocket salad, etc.,” Thumas said. “We are also sorting different kinds of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables like blueberries, cherries, apple wedges, banana and jalapeno peppers, etc.

“The dense object finder and special technology combination for fresh cut sorting are a very good asset to reach perfection. Mother Nature is unpredictable and every sorting challenge is a different one. We try to work together with the customer to find the best quality with a high yield.”

Tags: Striving
Previous Post

Food safety: Cantaloupe guidance process is under way

Next Post

Artichokes are ready for microwave

Next Post

Artichokes are ready for microwave

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy of vegetables.news app

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • AGROTECHNOLOGY
  • IRRIGATION
  • SEED PRODUCTION
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
  • PROCESSING

© 2020-2024 VEGETABLES NEWS