Washington Fruit and Produce Company of Yakima, WA, will have its new cherry packing house up and running in time for the 2014 cherry harvest. The facility on River Road in Yakima will double Washington Fruit’s cherry packing output; thanks to the installation of a 32-lane UNITEC CHERRY_VISION© optical sorter.
CHERRY_VISION© is a high-tech sorting system that non-destructively examines each cherry internally and externally for quality. Using a special system of cameras and software, the best cherries are selected according to skin quality, shape and size.
Improved temperature control before, during and after packing will ensure retailers will receive consistently high-quality cherries.
Cherry season in Central Washington is shorter than apple season, typically running from mid June to early August. Thanks to the new 85,000-foot packing facility with its CHERRY_VISION© sorter, Washington Fruit stands a step-ahead of the competition by processing more fruit during the short cherry season.
The CHERRY_VISION© optical sorter actually doubles packing capacity and improves accuracy in sizing, detection of cracks, splits or soft cherries. Good fruit is separated from the damaged in greater quantities without slowing the line.
Washington Fruit primarily processes the popular Dark Sweet and Rainier cherries
As cherry production in the Northwest is expected to increase, Washington Fruit is ready to take on the challenges of packing higher quality and greater quantities of fruit.
Washington Fruit and Produce Company is a family owned business that has delivered fresh produce since 1916. Their cherries, along with fresh apples and pears are grown, packed, and shipped worldwide.
Contact Tommy Hanses at Washington Fruit and Produce Co. for more information on the new River Road packing facility, along with its 32-lane UNITEC CHERRY_VISION© optical sorter.
P: (509)457-6177 www.washfruit.com
Source: Washington Fruit and Produce Co.
