Gary Hunsberger

Jul 8, 2021
How Hunsberger Farms keeps cherry growing productive

Hunsberger Farms is establishing its strategy for harvesting a large crop to enhance its bottom line.

“With this bigger crop, it’s much harder to harvest,” Gary Hunsberger said. “We’ve got a one-man OMC Harvester. We’ll probably have to harvest more in the mornings when the cherries are cooler. We’ll have lift tractors bring a full tank of water out instead of a half tank so it’s more of a bigger block of so-called ice to keep things cold.

“We will not keep the tanks out in the field, but will get them up to the cooling pad. We’ll put three to five hoses of running water in the tank to cool them down. Then we’ll remove the hoses once they get the heat out of the tank. Then we’ll keep a couple of hoses to keep the temperature at that time. It’s a percent of a percent.

“We get paid by the pound, but they measure the volume in the tank. When you mechanically harvest, the cherries squish in. If you leave the cherry tank on the cooling pad long enough the cherries will be like marbles. They will puff right back up. Actually, you’re putting in a little bit of water, you’re firming them right back up so they are harder. You will get a percentage more volume or more pounds with that extra water. We have two eight-inch wells and a more ample supply of water.”

RELATED: Michigan cherry grower sees large crop in tough year››

Many cherry growers do not have a large enough water supply to properly handle mechanically harvesting, Gary Hunsberger said.

“If you’re a little guy like us, with 60 to 100 acres of cherries, you are probably not going to put in a huge well that you’re going to get use out of probably one week out of the year,” Justin Hunsberger said. “It’s not worth it. So it’s another small thing that we do. There aren’t any secrets. It’s just work, and getting out there and doing it.”

— Gary Pullano, editor




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