Innovative Technologies for Thinning of Fruit

Hand thinning of tree fruit is a labor-intensive and tedious process. Reducing the labor requirement through mechanization helps reduce labor costs, decrease the need for short-term labor scheduling during the bloom season, and improve profitability. This project, primarily funded through the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative with support from several funding sources, is investigating methods to mechanize fruit thinning tasks. Peaches have been the target fruit during the first couple of years' work on this project. With grower and industry cooperation, the project has already clearly demonstrated that mechanized peach thinning is viable. One particular thinning unit (Darwin string thinner) is now available for commercial purchase and use. However, further refinements and developments are being investigated, including automated positioning of the string thinner, design changes in a prototype drum shaker, and design of a selective thinning unit.