Simultaneous Trunk and Canopy Shaking Improves Table Olive Harvester Efficiency versus Trunk Shaking Alone

Production of California table olives has declined significantly in recent years due to hand harvesting costs, often over 60% of gross return. Mechanical harvesting could sharply decrease harvest costs, increasing economic viability. Mechanical harvester efficiency is a combination of the percentage of the total fruit on a tree removed by a harvester, and the time required to do so. A comparison between an experimental canopy contact shaker and a commercial trunk shaker demonstrated low harvest efficiencies and no significant differences in harvester efficiency between the two, averaging no more than 8%. However, simultaneously combining both shaking methods increased fruit removal to an economically feasible 75% and produced better fruit quality. Combining both shaking methods increased the price per ton by 63% versus trunk shaking and 35% versus canopy shaking. These results suggest a mechanical olive harvester that simultaneously combines trunk and canopy shaking is more efficient than either shaking method alone, and, has potential for economically feasible mechanical table olive harvesting.