Project Number: 1931-21000-019-07
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2007
End Date: Jul 31, 2012

Objective:
The main abjective of this cooperative research project is to continue testing ARS's experimental sweet cherry harvester to determine cultivar characteristics, cultural practices, and tree training systems compatible with this harvesting concept. A second objective is to aid in the technology transfer for commercialization.

Approach:
The experimental sweet cherry harvester developed at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station will be loaned to Dr. Matthew D. Whiting, Washington State University, Prosser, WA, for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons. Dr. Whiting is developing and evaluating sweet cherry cultivar characteristics, cultural practices, and tree training systems for compatibility with machine harvest. Annual harvest trials will determine the optimum parameters.