Raspberry harvester off to U.K.

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 16

Raspberry harvester off to U.K.

This Christchurch-built raspberry harvester is going to a horticultural research station in England. It was photographed this week at the premises of Peco, Ltd, in Moorhouse Avenue, before being packed for shipping. The machine was designed by the Agricultural Engineering Institute at Lincoln College and is a more sophisticated version of an earlier machine built by the Christchurch firm which is now in Australia. Mr S. A. Goldsmith,' managing director of Peco, regards the sale to the East Mailing horticultural research station in Kent as something of a feather

in their cap. He says that the station is one of the leading horticultural research stations in England in the berrry fruit field. The deal followed the visit of a senior horticultural research officer from the station to Christchurch about 18 months ago, •when he saw the earliermachine made by Peco.

The machine is designed to harvest raspberries grown on the horizontal T trellis system. Hydraulicly operated, Mr Goldsmith says that it is simple and easy to operate. It has eight finger wheels on two horizontal shafts. Its action results in ripe fruit being shaken off without harming the bushes.