This article is part 2/4 in our Apple Thinning series and will cover mechanical thinning processes, advantages and disadvantages, and the tools most commonly used.

This article is part 1 in a 4 part series exploring apple thinning techniques and tools. This first part will cover the benefits of thinning as well as the main methods for setting targets to achieve when thinning. The following articles will get into the specifics of mechanical thinning, manual thinning and chemical thinning practices.

Croptracker is pleased to announce the latest update to its Harvest Quality Vision (HQV) system for apple growers. HQV 4.0 was launched in July 2023 in time for Apple Harvest in North America and offers increased accuracy and ease of use for all customers.

Color is one of the driving consumer acceptance factors when it comes to fresh produce. Everyone wants the reddest strawberries, the sunniest yellow lemons, and the broccoli is always greener on the other side of the fence. So how do growers and retailers make sure they’re producing the fruit and vegetables customers desire? Visual inspection is the number one way consumers select their produce - obviously, most of us aren’t bringing a quality control toolkit to Loblaws. At the grocery store, consumers pick the best-looking produce and carry on, so uniformity and consistency are critical.