Assessment on the damages caused by the citrus harvesting shears

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Assessment on the damages caused by the citrus harvesting shears.

Study conducted by:

ivia

Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias

ASSESSMENT ON THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE CITRUS HARVESTING SHEARS To this end, a collaboration agreement was signed with the IVIA to assess the decrease of the alterations caused by cutting in the harvesting using our shears model with round and curved tips and counter-blade relief when compared to other models commonly used by farmers.

The study was conducted in the 2013-2014 season at a cooperative in the Region of Valencia evaluating more than 55.000 clementines. This study provided the following results, among others:

The percentage of damaged fruit harvested is evaluated, sorting it according to the degree of such damage, into light, medium and serious. % Fruit with damaged skin

Manzana-Nules shears

18

Traditional shears

16 14 12 10 8

% damaged fruits

At Ram贸n Manzana S.L., we believe that work well done can always be improved. As a result, the idea of requesting the collaboration from the IVIA (Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research) emerged to conduct a study on how far we had reached with regard to our continuous search to achieve the best quality for our products and a greater reduction in the damages when harvesting.

DAMAGED FRUIT.

6 4 2 0

LIGHT DAMAGE

CUTTING OF THE STEMS

MEDIUM DAMAGE

SEVERE DAMAGE

As shown on the graph, the highest percentage corresponds to light damage. It must be taken into account that the severe damage caused when harvesting is normally detected at the initial sorting tables. However, light and medium damage, which may not be initially detected, is the cause for significant losses of quality during the postharvesting period, as this fruit is much more susceptible to subsequent pathological and physiological alterations (skin stains and rotten)

Fuente: IVIA

The amount of fruit harvested with long or very long stems is evaluated, subject to damage fruit during its handling, transport and storage.

% of fruit with long or very long stems 36

The graph shows that by using the MANZANA NULES shears, long stems were reduced by 70,% and very long stems by 60% when compared to the traditional model.

32 28 24

Manzana-Nules shears

% Fruit with stem

20

Traditional shears

LIGHT DAMAGE

MEDIUM DAMAGE

SEVERE DAMAGE

Source: IVIA

16 12

This study has enabled us to verify that, with the MANZANA NULES model with rounded and curved tips and counterblade relief, the damage caused to fruit has been reduced considerably when compared to other traditional shears.

This reduction being of 64% in light damage, 29% in medium damage and 50% in severe damage.

8 4

Source: IVIA

0

long stems

very long stems

SUMMARY In view of the results obtained by the IVIA, we can state that the technical characteristics of our shears may have a very positive influence in the decrease of damage caused during harvesting, resulting in a significant economic upswing of the harvest.

Some of these characteristics are as follows: 1

Study conducted by:

2

ivia

3

1

Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias

Fruit with long or very long stems; subject to damage fruit during handling, transport and storage.

Source: IVIA

Curved tips Rounded tips Counter-blade relief 2

3

RAMÓN MANZANA, S.L. C/ Senda Mitjana 41 pta. 11 Apdo 66 12520 Nules (Castellón) SPAIN T. (+34) 964 671 654 F. (+34) 964 787 510 ramonmanzana@manzana-nules.com www.manzana-nules.com