Electric Picker Works For Olives, Other Crops

Electric Picker Works For Olives Other Crops CROPS Miscellaneous As a California olive grower May Chevallier immediately recognized the advantages of the ATRAX Electric 4 olive picker Now as a distributor for the Greek manufacturer she is learning that the picker also works for other fruit and nut producers     “It pays for itself right away ” Chevallier says explaining that labor costs are her biggest expense She has had as many as 150 workers handpicking olives in her olive orchards It takes each worker 45 minutes to harvest 20 lbs of olives which nets 1 liter of olive oil The electric picker harvests 300 to 420 lbs in an hour     Powered by a 12-volt battery with a 45-ft cable the rake head with eight carbon fiber teeth shakes the branches and detaches olives from the branches     There are other motorized pickers Chevallier says but the ATRAX electric 4 has several advantages     “It has an articulating arm inside the rake head and it’s the rhythm of the shaking that does the trick ” she explains “The rake is light The guys can go all day using it It doesn’t damage the branches or shoots that grow olives the next year ”     She adds the ATRAX picker doesn’t fling olives all over and picks clean with minimal leaf fall and tree damage The 750-watt DC brushless motor has variable speeds The olive picker sells for $1 300 and comes with a year warranty     Chevallier has used the olive picker for two seasons and has been able to save money and get by with fewer workers For example 12 people with the ATRAX picker harvested 3 tons of olives in one day In the past it took 24 hand pickers a few days to pick 3 tons     The olive picker works for many tasks Almond growers use it to harvest almonds left in the trees after they have been shaken for the main harvest Pistachio growers use it on trees too young to be harvested by shaking Peach growers thin blossoms     The olive picker can be modified for different tasks An extension lengthens the handle up to 16-ft long Silicone tubes can be slid on the tines to reduce bruising to harvest table olives     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup May Chevallier 61969 Argyle Rd King City Calif 93930 ph 831 525-5270; www Atraxus com; may@atraxus com

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