Effective Use of a Variable Speed Blower Fan on a Mechanical Wild Blueberry Harvester

Abstract. The management of wild blueberry fields is continuously improving and plant density/leaf foliage have increased. The result of improved management practices has led to an increased amount of debris being collected while harvesting. Many commercial harvester units contain a single blower fan to remove debris before the fruit enters the storage bins. Processing facilities are suggesting that producers reduce the excess debris that is being collected in the bins. Keywords: Anemometer, Debris, Optimization, Processing, Real-time, Terminal velocity.