At Arnold Farms in Atwater, a shift towards automation in sweet potato harvesting has been introduced to address rising labor costs. The farm has implemented an automated harvester, which can do the work of six traditional manual harvesting setups. Craig Arnold, the owner of Arnold Farms, highlighted the economic challenges facing the industry, including high labor expenses and reduced market demand, prompting the move towards mechanization. The automated tractor, unique to the West Coast and developed by a South Dakota company, underwent modifications to ensure the delicate handling of sweet potatoes, minimizing damage to their skins.
Despite the advantages of automation, Arnold acknowledged the irreplaceable value of human touch in the harvesting process, noting that the machine might not catch every sweet potato. This technological adoption is part of Arnold Farms' strategy to remain viable and competitive in the industry amid economic pressures and a significant reduction in their sweet potato cultivation area.
Source: ABC30