Harry Shaw, left, places peaches on the central conveyer belt. He and a hired helper, Nathan, are standing on the platforms on either side of the harvester while Starr Shaw is at the back sorting fruit. Boxes are kept on the superstructure until needed. An arm with a sensor (small wheel) at the end which can be seen in the lower left of the photograph allows the harvester to be self-steering.


SUSAN MCIVER Peach harvester a first


Munckhofmachine proving its worth as labour costs and culls decline in test orchard.


By Susan McIver T


he development of what could be the world’s first peach harvester illustrates how growers and industry leaders can work together for mutual benefit.


The harvester was in operation for the 2008 season, thanks to the


collaboration between Oliver orchardist Harry Shaw and manufacturer Gerry Munckhof.


“To my knowledge it’s the only machine of its kind in the world,” Munckhof said.


Munckhof Manufacturing in Oliver, which he established in 1979, specializes in the design and manufacture of equipment for use in orchards, vineyards and silviculture. “We’re always looking for ways to work with farmers. It’s not a one way street.”


Shaw has long been concerned about the amount of fruit lost to damage at harvest and searching for ways to increase the overall efficiency of orchard operation.


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Shaw and his wife, Kim Kurylo, farm seven hectares of fruit, most of which is planted in peaches.


They also have small plantings of nectarines, plums, prunes, pears and apples.


In 2005, Shaw, who knew that apple picking machines were being used in European orchards, went there looking for a machine that might be of help to him as a soft fruit grower.


Subsequently, Shaw spoke with Rob Zandee of Gerard’s Equipment in Oliver, who suggested he call Gerry Munckhof.


After speaking with Shaw, Munckhof contacted a brother in The Netherlands, where their grandfather had started a


farm equipment manufacturing plant in the city of Horst.


Now, Munckhof’s four brothers operate the plant and export equipment used in the fruit and wine industries throughout the world.


“I knew my brother made a machine used to harvest nectarines in France. Our job was to modify that design to produce a machine that would work in local orchards,” he said.


Basically Munckhof and his team had to design a more compact model because of the narrower rows in Canadian orchards.


The basic harvester consists of a drive unit powered by a 12-horsepower motor with a platform on either side for


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