SALINAS, CA - When you pause to think about it, large-scale agriculture is a modern miracle. Putting fresh, healthy, safe food on tables around the world requires uncanny optimization of the supply chain, considering the perishable nature of the product. And the long journey begins at the field, where efficiency is everything.
Historically, growers have relied on hand harvesting in the field, which has posed many challenges. Field workers bending over all day in the hot sun creates difficult working conditions which challenge efficiency. But, if you ask Taylor Farms, for every obstacle there is a creative solution. That's why the company has made it a point to invest in advanced field technologies and automated harvesting.
"Sourcing labor in California agriculture has become so competitive, the evolution of mechanization is inevitable," said Chris Rotticci, Director Automated Harvest Equipment at Taylor Farms. "Fewer people available in the workforce will continue to increase costs. Creating more ergonomic and higher skilled jobs will prove to be the most economically feasible route. Furthermore, we believe these jobs will improve migrant farm workers' quality of life."
The journey started seven years ago, when Taylor Farms worked to bring automated harvest from concept to reality. After two years of development, the company debuted the Automated Romaine Harvester with water jet knife technology, effectively eliminating hand harvest for the crop.
After seeing success in romaine, in the past two years Taylor Farms has extended this technology and created the Automated Celery Harvester. Most recently, the company introduced the Automated Cabbage Harvester.
"Our focus is sustainability and in today's world hand harvesting is not sustainable," commented David Offerdahl, Director of Ag Engineering at Taylor Farms. "We can't sit back for the day when field labor is even harder to find. We must innovate now to create jobs that entice workers to our industry, not away from it."
The result of these innovations? In the past three years, the company has seen an increase in workers aged 20-30 in the workforce for automated machine crews. The new technology eliminated harsh working conditions, allowing team members to stand upright under shaded canopies in the field, effectively transforming the workforce.
"It's fun to see the reaction when testing the new equipment. In some cases we've created a ruckus over who gets to work on the new harvester," Offerdahl added.
You can find more information on these initiatives at the company blog here.
This isn't the company's only endeavor to improve agtech. The company has also made significant investments into the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology, recently celebrating its one year anniversary. The agtech incubator now houses 27 startups, and focuses on generating creative solutions to the many challenges facing agriculture.
How will Taylor Farms continue to innovate? Follow along with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report.
