An experimental mechanical harvester (V45) was developed that utilized an angled double-spiked-drumshaker, a cane dividing and positioning system, and cushioned catching surfaces to harvest fresh market qualityblueberries. With the V45, ground losses were reduced by 44% when compared with a commercial mechanical harvester.Fruit packout was similar between the V45 and a commercial harvester, but berry firmness and internal fruit quality fromthe V45 harvester were superior to that from the commercial harvester. Fruit quality from the experimental harvester wasas good as quality from commercially hand harvested fruit.
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Peterson et al. (1997) studied this question.