WHAT’S AT STAKE

NITTY – GRITTY OF MECHANICALLY HARVESTED GRAPES Mechanical harvesters are large tractors that straddle grapevine trellises and remove berries or fruit clusters from the vine by gently vibrating the vines so that the grapes are separated from their stems. Once the berries or clusters have been shaken free, they are collected by individually sprung “fishplates” that open and close around the vine trunk or trellis supports. The plates are angled to divert fruit to the conveyors. The grapes are then moved along a conveyor (in the case where the harvester is not equipped with an on-board bin) where powerful […]