Usually, about 30 tons of tomatoes are obtained at the Triple H farm during the season. But this year, owner Tommy Gehr said they had 40 tons.
FULTON COUNTY, OH – Fall means harvest season in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, with farmers harvesting corn, soybeans and tomatoes, among other crops.
In Fulton County, Tommy Gehr is in charge for the fifth generation Triple N Farm. 27 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and tomatoes were planted. They also harvest five to eight truckloads of tomatoes a day and send them to Hirzel Canning, where they will become Dei Fratelli Salsa.
Tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse, then taken outside in May and June. Thanks to the exceptional weather this year, Herr said, the harvest has also been exceptional.
“This year has been great,” Ger said. “Last year we were tested with a little wet fall, but our varieties have changed over the years, looking at have research companies have given us newer varieties, things that produce.
How to harvest tomatoes? Triple H Farm uses what is called a Pik Rite Harvester. He cuts tomato plants about an inch below ground level. Then they go up the assembly line, and the process becomes “high-tech,” said Ger.
“I’m going to describe it as two hairbrushes,” he said. “It goes under one hairbrush, and the tines are about a foot long, and they will shake and vibrate as the plant continues to penetrate, and then it goes over the next brush and it shakes, and all the fruit falls on the belt.”
The tomatoes are passed through electronic sorters that only let red tomatoes through, while green or damaged fruit falls below. They are then sorted by hand to get rid of waste.
Usually, about 30 tons of tomatoes are obtained at the Triple H farm during the season. But this year Mr. said they had 40 tons.
They will finish harvesting in mid-October, and in November they will start harvesting corn and soybeans.
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/triple-h-farm-exceeds-typical-yield-for-annual-tomato-harvest/512-762e1b89-5a5c-4dfd-a505-fa19af55ffc4
