ISHS Acta Horticulturae 412: I International Symposium on Solanacea for Fresh Market
MECHANICAL PEPPER HARVESTING |
| Author: | D.E. Marshall |
| Keywords: | Capsicum, selective harvesting, non-selective harvesting, fresh market, processing, labor |
| Abstract:
Since 1967, over 200 machines have been built around the world to mechanically harvest Capsicum peppers. During this period, 14 patents were issued for mechanical pepper harvesters. Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Spain, United States, and the former USSR have tested experimental harvesters using about 29 different mechanical harvesting principles. Various processor and manufacturing companies have attempted harvest mechanization since the late 1960's, but interest waned when success was not imminent. In 1980, 10 non- profit university, state, and federal research agencies were experimenting with pepper harvest mechanization, by 1990 there were none. Since the first harvest mechanization used commercially in the U.S. was on bell peppers for dehydration in California in 1967 the peppers harvested mechanically has rarely exceeded 400 ha. However, the processing and manufacturing industries have renewed their interest in mechanization in the early 1990s. This is expected to increase significantly by the year 2000. | |
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