Rasberry Tunnel Rig

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Aims -To develop a machine that will significantly increase the hand pickinQ\ output ofRaspberries grown in polytunnels.The availability of picking labour is becoming the biggest problem facing growers. If theissue is not resolved crops will increasingly remain unharvested and will rot in the fields.A successful project will result in a machine with a small crew that will reduce theharvesting labour by a targeted 40%.Deliverables -pre-production prototypedrawing and specification for productionprocedures for operationTest report following field trialsReasons for the work -The Raspberry is a very delicate fruit that is easily damaged by wind, rain, excess heat,mishandling and inappropriate storage.Growing the fruit in polytunnels reduces the risk of damage from the weather and willhelp to sustain the industry in changing climatic conditions.The delicate nature of the fruit means that it must be hand picked, but finding pickinglabour is becoming the growers' biggest problem.If the industry is to survive it must find a solution to the labour problem.The aims of the project are to reduce the picking labour for Raspberries grown inpolytunnels by 40% and to reduce imports, which in recent years have impacted UKhomegrown sales, so reducing food miles.