A Different Kind of March Madness

Our Florida harvest begins in March and continues through May.  Berries are brought in from the field in new low profile lugs weighing approximately six (6) pounds, stacked on standard A Grade pallets, and placed in pre-cooler forced air chambers.  The forced air fans pull the heat and moisture out of the berries preparing them for packing and shipping allowing for a longer shelf life.

After the berries are cooled, they are inspected and graded for the highest quality using a combination of sophisticated technological equipment created from around the world as well as local labor. Color/soft sorters use the latest in optical

and laser technology to see quality defects beyond the human eye.  Berries are passed through a sizer to remove small berries leaving only the largest quality fruit.

After grading, the berries enter a fill-by-weight packing machine that is computer driven to weigh to the exact gram at a pace of over 100 cups per minute.

The cups are filled and closed, then labeled and boxed in flats.  Palletized fruit is then stored in another cooler for shipping every day. Berries that are graded out of the grading line for blemishes, size, or other defects are frozen and used for a juice or wine product. To utilize all the berries produced after the hand harvesting is concluded, the remainder of fruit is mechanically harvested for the frozen fruit industry.

phone: (352) 481-5558 • fax: (352) 481-5093 • 2600 SE 193rd Ave • Hawthorne, Florida • 32640

©2008 Island Grove Ag Products

 

 

tion in our own fields.

 


 

IGAP also participates in community functions in Hawthorne, our closest town.  Most notably is the clean-up and recovery of the City Park at Lake Johnson in which we contributed labor, equipment and plant material for this clean-up and enhancement project.  At the local high school, we donated and built a fruit orchard at the agricultural department hoping to inspire young adults to learn more about agriculture and fruit production.  The orchard contains blueberries, blackberries, grapes, pears, peaches, plums and persimmons.