Fork Attachments for Three-point Hydraulic Hitches 

 Found on Some Tractors 



These attachments, costing about $50, can lift a bulk box about 18 inches. 

 They are quite useful for hauling filled boxes out of an orchard. They cannot be 

 used for stacking. Overloading these attachments may cause leaks in the tractor's 

 hydraulic system. 



Fork Attachments for Front-end Loaders 



These attachments cost about $50. If used to handle bulk boxes, however, an 

 added hydraulic cylinder costing an additional $50 between the fork and the lifting 

 arms of the buckrake or hayloader is desirable so the operator can keep the forks 

 level. These units have limitations. It is difficult to move the forks smoothly, the 

 forks are on the front of the tractor so it is sometimes difficult for the operator to 

 see the load, and the added weight on the front of the tractor makes steering diffi- 

 cult. When used consistently, AERD recommends (1) that the front axle of the 

 tractor be reinforced, (2) that oversize tires be used, and (3) that the unit be 

 equipped with powersteering. 



Homemade Lift Units 



Growers with well equipped machine shops can make their own lifts — by 

 shortening a truck chassis, reversing the axle and steering mechanism, and adding a 

 lift mast. Cost of necessary material is about $1,000. Well built units of this type 

 operate effectively. 



Trailers and Skids 



If it takes 20 minutes or less to make a round trip between the orchard and the 

 packinghouse, storage, or loading area, then bulk boxes can be moved economically 

 by lift equipment. If the round trip takes longer than 20 minutes, trailers or skids 

 may be used economically. ARS 42-20 describes a two- wheeled, bulk-box trailer, and 

 the use of skids. 



Straddle Carriers 



These vehicles are driven over a load of palletized crates or bulk boxes set on 

 bolsters. Hydraulically operated raising and lowering shoes pick up the load. Loads 

 of 5 to 6 tons can be picked up or set down in 10 to 20 seconds. Loaded straddle 

 carriers can reach speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour on surfaced roads. Since they 

 have large wheels they can be driven into fields and orchards. They are expensive, 

 however, and AERD estimates that they must be used continuously 10 to 16 hours a 

 day for several weeks before their purchase can be justified. ARS 42-42 illustrates 

 and describes straddle carriers more fully (see footnote 1, j). 7 and footnote 3, p. 14.) . 



Handling Fruit in Water 



Handling fruit in water, worked out by AERD and Michigan State University, 

 is simple and effective. Cherries, for example, come from the picker's pail onto a 

 sorting board and from there into tank trucks of water. When filled to capacity, the 

 tank and contents are cooled to 60 degrees F. or less by additional running water 

 and the truck then goes to the processing plant. At the plant, the driver attaches 

 a flume, opens the outlet valve and flushes the cherries out with a hose. No other 

 handling between orchard and processor is needed. (Tanks may also be fastened to 

 pallets and handled with lift equipment.) 



