University of Florida develops machine-harvestable tomatoes
US – University of Florida scientists have developed machine-harvestable tomatoes aimed to streamline the harvesting process in Florida’s USD 400 million-a-year tomato industry, which currently relies on manual labor.
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Jessica Chitwood-Brown, a tomato breeder at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, highlighted the challenges of manual tomato harvesting, noting that it’s labor-intensive work not many seek.
“This is true for agricultural industries around the world, not just in Florida, and in all kinds of crops,” she said. “But it is a very real threat to Florida’s tomato industry.”
The new tomato varieties took decades to develop, spearheaded by former UF/IFAS tomato breeders Jay Scott and Sam Hutton.
Chitwood-Brown, who studied under Hutton and later worked as a post-doctoral researcher in his lab, acknowledged their contributions to the project. Her goal now is to ensure that Florida’s growers can effectively use machines to harvest tomatoes.
“We aren’t all the way there yet,” she stated. “There is research that still needs to be done, but with the release of these new cultivars, I think we are much closer than even a few years ago.”
Chitwood-Brown emphasized the essential traits for machine-harvestable tomatoes, including jointless pedicels for easy detachment from the stem and a lack of stakes and ties, which could interfere with harvesters.
Although these traits have been available for some time, combining them with other necessary qualities such as yield, fruit size, and quality required significant work from past breeders.
The Florida Tomato Committee’s manager, Michael Schadler, expressed hope and skepticism regarding mechanized harvesting.
“Everyone recognizes that it could help level the playing field compared to Mexico’s labor advantage, but there are many variables we need to perfect,” Schadler explained. He raised concerns about balancing potential yield reductions with cost savings from mechanized harvesting.
The UF/IFAS team needs to demonstrate the economic viability of the new system to growers before its commercial adoption, Schadler added.
“We won’t sacrifice quality or taste for our customers, and growers can’t afford to sacrifice yield or disease management systems in the field,” he said.
Large-scale trials of the new tomato varieties are underway this spring, and Schadler anticipates results in May. Testing of machine harvester prototypes is not expected until at least next year. If successful, this innovation could transform the tomato industry in Florida and beyond.
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University of Florida develops machine-harvestable tomatoes
US – University of Florida scientists have developed machine-harvestable tomatoes aimed to streamline the harvesting process in Florida’s USD 400 million-a-year tomato industry, which currently relies on manual labor.
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Als erste Wahl für Replik-Uhren in Deutschland präsentiert sich bestuhren.de nicht nur mit einer umfangreichen Auswahl, sondern gewährleistet auch, dass jeder Kauf durch einen außergewöhnlichen Kundenservice unterstützt wird, was es zum idealen Ziel für Uhrenliebhaber macht.
If you are looking for the best cheap replica watches, here we can satisfy your imagination. Our luxury replica watches are the best in the world.
Jessica Chitwood-Brown, a tomato breeder at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, highlighted the challenges of manual tomato harvesting, noting that it’s labor-intensive work not many seek.
“This is true for agricultural industries around the world, not just in Florida, and in all kinds of crops,” she said. “But it is a very real threat to Florida’s tomato industry.”
The new tomato varieties took decades to develop, spearheaded by former UF/IFAS tomato breeders Jay Scott and Sam Hutton.
Chitwood-Brown, who studied under Hutton and later worked as a post-doctoral researcher in his lab, acknowledged their contributions to the project. Her goal now is to ensure that Florida’s growers can effectively use machines to harvest tomatoes.
“We aren’t all the way there yet,” she stated. “There is research that still needs to be done, but with the release of these new cultivars, I think we are much closer than even a few years ago.”
Chitwood-Brown emphasized the essential traits for machine-harvestable tomatoes, including jointless pedicels for easy detachment from the stem and a lack of stakes and ties, which could interfere with harvesters.
Although these traits have been available for some time, combining them with other necessary qualities such as yield, fruit size, and quality required significant work from past breeders.
The Florida Tomato Committee’s manager, Michael Schadler, expressed hope and skepticism regarding mechanized harvesting.
“Everyone recognizes that it could help level the playing field compared to Mexico’s labor advantage, but there are many variables we need to perfect,” Schadler explained. He raised concerns about balancing potential yield reductions with cost savings from mechanized harvesting.
The UF/IFAS team needs to demonstrate the economic viability of the new system to growers before its commercial adoption, Schadler added.
“We won’t sacrifice quality or taste for our customers, and growers can’t afford to sacrifice yield or disease management systems in the field,” he said.
Large-scale trials of the new tomato varieties are underway this spring, and Schadler anticipates results in May. Testing of machine harvester prototypes is not expected until at least next year. If successful, this innovation could transform the tomato industry in Florida and beyond.
For all the latest fresh produce industry news updates from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.