The Status of Labor-Saving Mechanization in U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Harvesting

Wallace E. Huffman

Staff General Research Papers Archive from Iowa State University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper provides a description of important steps in the mechanization of U.S. fruit and vegetable harvesting, which can be hard, backbreaking work, and in addition, the risk of falling is significant for hand-harvesting fruit trees from ladders. Switching to mechanical harvesting frequently requires the transformation of a farming operation, e.g., new crop varieties, new field configurations, and new packing processes. In addition, a significant capital outlay is frequently required. Progress in mechanization varies a great deal across fruit and vegetable crops.

Keywords: fruits; vegetables; United States; Mechanization; mechanical harvesters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-07-20
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-hme
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/papers/p15132-2012-07-20.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The Status of Labor-Saving Mechanization in U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Harvesting (2012)
Working Paper: The Status of Labor-saving Mechanization in U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Harvesting (2012)
Working Paper: The status of labor-saving mechanization in U.S. fruit and vegetable harvesting (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:isu:genres:35132

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