Grant: Engage Grants Program

Northeastern North America is the world's leading producer of wild blueberries, with over 86,000 ha under management, producing 112 million kg of fruit valued at $470 million annually. Over 80% of the wild blueberry fields in North America are being harvested by the Doug Bragg Enterprises (DBE), making DBE a key player in mechanical harvesting of wild blueberries. The existing DBE wild blueberry harvester attains 68% (in weedy fields) to 80% (smooth weed free fields) of total berry yields. The objective of this project is to investigate the factors affecting picking efficiency of existing DBE blueberry harvester to increase harvestable fruit yield. Dr. Zaman and his team will work with DBE to determine the characterization and quantification of field variability (soil, plant and terrain characteristics). This information could allow the industry to modify the existing harvester to improve harvesting efficiency and increase farm profitability. Pending a satisfactory outcome of this project, it is envisaged that a more detailed project will be undertaken to help BDE modify components of their harvester to increase harvesting efficiency.