Harvesting a quality crop is an important topic on everybody’s mind for the upcoming season. Blackspot bruise and shatter bruise, or open wounds such as nicks, cuts, and abrasions are quality issues to focus on and minimize at harvest. Most potato handling operations are performed by equipment, but there is almost always a human factor involved in managing that equipment in a way that minimizes bruising. Taking time to educate employees about bruise prevention should be a standard part of your harvest preparation.
As part of the Idaho Potato Commission-funded quality project, University of Idaho has posted employee training resources on the Bruise Management tab of their website. These resources include popular articles, bulletins, and four recently added videos on windrower and harvester operation – two in English and two in Spanish.
These videos will be especially valuable for employees that are new to operating harvesting equipment as they emphasize how to adjust forward speed, conveyor speed, and drop heights to minimize bruise damage. The videos are only 3 to 4 minutes long, but cover the basic operating principles and show overhead and up-close viewpoints so that equipment operators can see what the machinery should look like when operating properly.
