Harvest of Southern Highbush Blueberry with a Modified, Over-the-Row Mechanical Harvester: Use of Soft-Catch Surfaces to Minimize Impact Bruising

Harvest of fresh market, southern highbush blueberries (SHB) is labor intensive and costly, leading to a demand for alternative harvest methods. Recent research has shown potential mechanically harvesting with minimal bruising by using modified over-the-row (OTR) harvester. For two harvests, SHB cultivars Optimus Vireo were either hand-harvested (HH) or harvested (MH) commercial harvesters, one unmodified standard hard-catch surfaces (HCS) the other soft-catch (SCS). 1, fruit from all methods hand-sorted into following categories: blue (marketable), red fruit, green culls. Samples each cultivar treatment then held at 24 °C overnight, day firmness impact bruise severity determined. 2 had identical treatments; however, sorted on packing line prior in clamshells (n = 16). A subsample was overnight as 1 rating, while remaining stored 14 days (d). Although percent marketable more affected than method, determination revealed benefit SCS over HCS both cultivars. The former 16–26% severe bruising, compared 27–40% latter; HH 1–4%. During storage, remained firmer SCS, which similar. After d, “Optimus” 239 N (HH), 157 (HCS SCS) “Vireo” it 189 155 SCS). Fruit weight loss increased during storage (1.1–4.4%), but there no difference due catch plate surface. SSC, TTA Ratio not surface type period within cultivar. Using modifications such “soft” currently available OTR harvesters reduces damage; impacts incurred operations can negate this effect. MH market may provide an economical blueberry growers; current technology, should be utilized week harvest.