FoodTrust - Connections

Last time I showed you a picture of a couple guys looking at a high tech device called a Smart Spud. Behind them was a machine for grading potatoes that used a lot of steel where potatoes can easily get bruised. This time I’ll tell you about some new equipment that one of FoodTrust’s partners is using to hopefully eliminate much of the bruising that happens during grading.

William and Randy Visser (G.W. Visser and Sons) were one of FoodTrust’s first packing partners. They really understand quality. They also know the importance of continually striving to improve quality. When we approached them about partnering on purchasing some new equipment they jumped at the chance.

This new equipment from Grimme, a company in Belgium, is specially designed to minimize impacts to potatoes. The belts are made of rubber and anything that can come into contact with a potato is made to reduce the effect of impact. The equipment shown on the left allows sorting and grading of up to three products.

On the right is a tote box filler. The box, sitting beside the machine, is placed under a chute. The potatoes feed from the first machine onto this one. The chute lowers to reduce the distance a potato must drop into the box. It automatically rises as the box fills up.

As far as we can tell this equipment is the first of its kind in this region. Once it proves itself I’m sure other farms will start using similar equipment. But, it is just one example of how FoodTrust and its partners are on the forefront of technology.

I’ll try to get pictures or video of this equipment in action for a future update.

Scott