Cherry packers in New Zealand and the United States have made use of Tomra’s new artificial intelligence (AI) powered grading platform, to increase efficiency and quality of products.
Tomra’s AI-powered LucAi technology, on its InVision2 cherry grading platform, was first offered for customer trials in 2023.
The technology uses Tomra’s deep learning algorithm to identify defects – from edge cracks, Pacman cherries, open sutures, cosmetic blemishes and stem pulls, to spurs, cracks and all defects around the stem. It will recognise colours in the ripe phase with precision for sorting and grading purposes.
Prima Frutta Packing, based in California, USA, and two companies from Central Otago, New Zealand – Dunstan Hills, and Panmure Orchards, have been using the technology for the last two seasons with satisfaction.
The three cherry growers share the challenge of meeting growing demand in the short cherry season, which in New Zealand runs from early to mid-December to late January, while typically begins in mid-May and finishes at the end of June in California.
All three had used Tomra food sorters in their processing lines for almost ten years, and were keen to add the LucAi technology onto their InVision2 grading platforms to improve sorting processes.
After one full season with Tomra LucAi, they found that they benefited from higher productivity, enhanced quality selection with consequent higher margins for their customers, and reduced food waste.
Prima Frutta Packing founder, Tim Sambado, said the company initially wanted to become more accurate, simplify the system for its operators, and detect defects that were more difficult in its traditional mapping system.
“One of the advantages of LucAi is that when we depended on electronic sorting to do all the heavy lifting, the number of good-in-bad errors was dramatically reduced.”
Dunstan Hills operations manager, Ian Nicholls, said that with LucAi the company achieved better grading and increased throughput of around 10 per cent.
“It is easier for the operator to refine decision-making and improve grading. LucAi is better at making difficult decisions on small blemishes as to whether it is for export or the local market.”
“With LucAi making more accurate decisions, we are able to put more fruit in front of the sorters.”
LucAi for the InVision2 cherry grading platform comes preloaded with data, models trained using real images of cherries. It is ready to deliver sorting and grading performance as soon as it is installed.
The platform also continues learning from the data it collects while running in the customer’s operation, with Tim Sambado saying that LucAi began picking up specialised defects through training.
“It’s an evolving process. Teaching it the powdery mildew defects, insect bites, freshwater cracks that we’ve had after a rain: things that were very difficult on our traditional mapping systems. ”
After the 2023 cherry season, Prima Frutta decided to install LucAi on all of their machines, for a total of 132 lanes for their upcoming 2024 cherry season.
Tomra Food global categories director – Cherries, Benedetta Ricci Iamino, said that with LucAi, customers can confidently expect the best fruit, in prime condition, reaching optimal markets at highly competitive prices.
“It guarantees the packaging of top-notch fruit, meticulously sorted and placed in optimal boxes, prepared for the most favourable market prices.
“LucAi caters to a diverse range of preferences and customisations, providing a comprehensive solution poised to revolutionise the industry landscape and enable our customers to achieve unprecedented success in the cherry industry.”
