By Clint Thompson
Machine harvesters are a necessity for Florida’s blueberry industry to remain viable heading into the future. Considering the input expenses that accompany blueberry production in the Sunshine State, growers need to reduce their labor needs and rely more on automated harvesters.
Ryan Atwood, who lives in Mount Dora, Florida and farms 56 acres of blueberries, manages another 350 acres and is part-owner of the largest packing house in the Southeast United States, has utilized mechanical harvesters for about 10 years. He discussed its value at the recent blueberry meeting in Citra, Florida.
“Florida has to get a better return on the fruit, and I think the only way Florida is going to stay in the game is with machine harvesting,” said Atwood, who compared the state’s blueberry industry to Georgia.
“Our expenses are just so much more, even more than Georgia. Georgia’s guys inherit land from their grandpa, they timber it, use that money to dig some canals and put in some irrigation. The soil in Georgia has got 6% to 8% of organic matter. In Florida we’ve got less than 1%. Southern highbush wants 4%. You’ve got to supplement with pine bark to get your organic content up, and that’s expensive.
“(Georgia) has an inherent ability to be cheaper. Even though they’ve got lower prices, they’ve got much cheaper input costs.”
There are various challenges associated with machine harvesting. These include weather issues and variety susceptibility, and also machines will break down. Atwood emphasizes, though, the investment will be worth it.
“It’s difficult and there’s a lot of challenges, but the economics of it are worth it. My advice to other people is you’ve got to push through it, and you’ve got to continue to make it work. It’s the way we’re going to stay in business,” Atwood said.