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AI models aim to forecast harvest timing for fruit growers

A Washington State apple harvest in 2023 was delayed by extreme heat, underscoring how weather-driven timing tools could affect labor schedules and picking windows.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Asia

BBC Business describes how fruit growers are exploring AI models that forecast ideal harvest dates by factoring in weather, with operators saying timing needs to cover both when fruit ripens and how long pickers have to harvest it safely.

In Washington State, Joel Carter of Okanagan Specialty Fruits recalled that when the apple harvest window arrived, the fruit was ripe but temperatures made outdoor work unsafe, forcing the team to stop early in the day.

The piece notes that growers are also evaluating new tools that count and analyze fruit directly on trees or vines and predict ripening, as firms invest in technology to maximize productivity.

It also highlights that some fruit is engineered to stay fresh after cutting, while harvest planning remains complex because prices for fruit, including high-value berries, can make timing especially consequential.

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