After being approached by a grower looking for a solution to the seemingly impossible task to harvesting microgreens with a machine, Bob Benner created his automatic harvester. It turned out to be a huge success. “We’ve reduced the time needed for processing a tray from 2 minutes by hand to a three seconds with the harvester.”
Bob Benner with Hamill
Vertical farming, labor shortage, food safety, microgreens. If you had to list the top ten hottest items in horticulture these days, the afore mentioned would definitely be included. So it is not a surprise that Bob Benner’s business has experienced changes since he created his microgreens harvester – the machine addresses all of these subjects.
The machine, making it possible to harvest microgreens from the tray into the clamshells or poach without being touched by human hands, gains interest from growers worldwide. According to Bob, the machine can harvest a tray within three seconds, thus reducing harvest time by ninety per cent. The machine can be built for various tray sizes.
“We’ve sold 9 of our machines in the US, in our first year and had inquiries from all over the world. The industry is getting bigger and bigger. There’s a rising demand is to get fresh, safely grown and harvested greens, harvested the day before only, no matter what climate people are in.”
The unique features of the machine – aside from the labor savings - include the handling of the vulnerable product. “The blades do not tear the product and will give them the exact same height. The product never touches soil nor human hands. No dirt will get on it.”
In addition, the company has been asked to create other machines, relevant to the industry. “Tray washers for example. We will be working on this one as well.” For now, the latest addition is the mini-harvester. “Since so many microgreens farms are just starting out, this one allows them to get into the market without having to invest in the full production one.”
Meet Bob & his team at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference in booth 1064.
For more information:
Bob Benner
Hamill Agricultural Processing Solutions
4727 Kent Ave.
Niagara Falls, ON
L2H 1J3
Shop: 90-354-2922
Fax: 905-354-8262
bob.benner@hamillaps.ca
www.hamillaps.com
www.hamillmachine.ca