FoodTrust - Connections

Last time I showed you the new cleaning and sorting machine at G.W. Visser and Sons. This time I’ll show you the box filler.

While I was at Visser’s videotaping their Grimme setup, William told me about the difference between what this machine does and what typically happens with potatoes on a farm.

Typically potatoes are stored in warehouse filled with potatoes wall to wall, floor to ceiling with ventilation ducts to keep the potatoes from rotting. A bucket loader is used to remove potatoes from the warehouse. This results in some damage to the potatoes as the bucket is pushed into the pile.

This method also makes it difficult to identify the origins of the potatoes since several fields of potatoes can be stored in one warehouse. It is also terribly inefficient if a certain size range is required. The packing line must sort through a wide range of sizes to get the required size.

Storing in boxes is a relatively new idea in this area. Large wooden boxes filled with potatoes can be stacked easily. Air space can be left between boxes to allow adequate air flow. When the time comes to pack the potatoes they can be moved easily with a forklift with almost no damage to the potatoes. The boxes can also be labeled to identify the origin of the contents.

Filling large boxes can be tricky because potatoes should not be dropped 4′ from a conveyor belt into the box. The Grimme Box Filler is is a very neat machine that reduces the impact to potatoes being stored in boxes.

The video shows much better than I can explain it. A conveyor on one end is lowered into the box which allows the potatoes to fall gently into it. The conveyor automatically raises as the box fills up. When the box is full the conveyor slides over and lowers into the empty box to begin filling it. A forklift moves in to remove the full box and replace it with an empty one.

Each box is labeled to identify the variety, size, and origin. The boxes are stored in the warehouse grouped by these attributes. It is very easy to remove a certain size range of potatoes for packing. If a problem is found in a certain field it is easy to locate the harvest from that field and take the required actions.

This equipment will allow Visser’s to maintain a higher quality product in storage which will result in better quality in our retail display units. This is one example of high quality products from farmers that care.

Scott

This will be the first in a series about the Visser farm, and their newest machinery acquisition.

The Visser’s recently acquired a new potato grading/sizing machine from Grimme Technica, leaders in potato handling systems. We are using our SmartSpud to help them tuned it up. About a week ago William told me it was going to be running that day. Since I was going to be in the area anyway I thought I’d pop over and check it out.

The whole system is quite an impressive sight. It fills most of the space in their parking lot when it is assembled to operate. At the left of the picture is the RH Combi unit. This post will focus on that unit and its purpose.

The Combi unit accepts the potatoes as they are dumped from the truck. It has a huge capacity (wish I knew how many pounds per hour it can process, but I don’t at the moment). The dirt and rocks are separated, each taking a separate path out of the machine to be dumped into trucks. The potatoes then pass the human component of the process. Six people were watching the line, picking out stray debris and bad potatoes as they whizzed by.

After the human inspectors the potatoes pass over a rubber mesh that performs the first in a series of size separations. Potatoes too large to fit through the mesh go one way, everything else went in the other direction.

What does this mean for you? Well, to begin with the machine is built to reduce mechanical damage, like bruising, to the potatoes. We are further reducing damage by tuning the machine using the SmartSpud to identify problem areas. We are continually raising the bar on quality and this is one way we are able to do that.

The next steps in the process will be topics for future post.

I happened to have a video camera with me. Windows Movie Maker is a wonderful little program.

Scott

Chemicals, some farms just can’t seem to get away from using them. But, it is nice to know that some farmers are doing everything they can to do just that.

Traditionally, farmers would spray entire fields with broad spectrum pesticides in the hope if deterring future pest problems. This resulted in a lot of chemical being applied needlessly.

Lori uses Integrated Pest Management methods to control pests in an efficient, environmentally sound way. She uses crop scouting services to identify the location of pest problems so she can target only those areas that have problems. The crop scouts also identify the pest so that Lori can use the most appropriate pesticide.

A crop scout looks through potato plants to find evidence of insects and disease. Sometimes they use a net to sweep the field looking for insects.

The Robinson family has also been involved in several trials of different equipment to eliminate certain chemicals altogether. Machines like flamers and freezers have been tested to attack insect pests and kill-down plants in the fall without the use of chemicals.

According the farm’s web site: “Robinson’s is continuously experimenting with new and improved farming methods in an effort to bring the best quality product to the consumer.”

Lori and her family are constantly trying to find more environmentally friendly methods to reduce pest and disease problems. They want to be sure they send the best quality and safest products you can buy.

Scott