Dale Shuknecht , President - During Vidalia, GA Onion Harvest

Over the last several years, Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc. has been working with Vidalia onion growers and the University of Georgia to eliminate costly hand labor and to make mechanical Onion harvesting a common practice without reducing product quality.

Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc.'s Patented Onion harvesters harvested the short day onion with equal to or less damage than hand labor. Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc.'s finish topper eliminated the balance of tops & roots for final pack out. (See the following magazine articles in Onion World July/Aug 1998-Technology, The Grower July 1998-Bytes & Bolts, American Vegetable Grower June 1999-Cover Story).

FACT:

Mechanical harvesters will top to the largest onion, therefore, the smaller onion will have a longer top.

RESOLUTION:

Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc.'s patented Finish Topper will remove semi-green & dry tops to a minimum of 1/2", (approximately 90% accurate) eliminating unwanted leaves and roots. No staining of the onion, Gentle - no bruising, high volume, speed and height adjustable. Our Finish Topper was used at the packing house to eliminate the balance of the tops for a finished product.

We offer many thanks to the University of Georgia, Reid Torrence (Tattnall County Extension Coordinator), Bland Farms, Plantation Sweets, and Del Monte for the opportunity to prove that our Mechanical Harvesters and Finish Topper will work on the short day onion.