In message , Bill
writes
In message , Tim Lamb
writes
I once met a man set on developing a machine for picking
Blackcurrants:-)

Much horticultural research goes into developing hybrid varieties with
very narrow ripening periods. Thus aiding mechanised harvesting to the
annoyance of vegetable gardeners who want extended ripening so they
can enjoy a crop over a longer period.

Did he succeed with his blackcurrant machine?

Not that I know of:-)

My first holiday job was picking blackcurrants that went to Ribena.
Workers were, in those days, mainly local farm worker's wives. After a
week, I was taken aside by the farm owner and shown what I was costing
him and what the produce sold for. I was moved to the farm's sales area.

I'm not up to date on this but surprising types of produce are
mechanically harvested for factory sorting. Peas, beans potatoes ...
must be 50 years.



--
Tim Lamb