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During the fall season, millions of pumpkins are harvested, carved, and displayed as lanterns with glowing tealights. The process of getting these pumpkins from the fields to the stores is a complex logistical challenge, especially with the unpredictable autumn weather.
To streamline the harvesting operations, Lincolnshire grower David Bowman designed and built a unique self-propelled harvesting machine that includes a washer and box loader. This impressive machine can harvest over 70,000 pumpkins a day, allowing the majority of his 300-hectare crop to be harvested in just a couple of months.
The harvesting rig was custom-designed by farm manager Mickey Daly and engineer Colin Reed, with Niagri in Thetford handling the construction. After some fine-tuning, the machine was ready for action in the middle of the 2020 season. The main goal of the new harvester was to automate as much of the process as possible, significantly reducing the need for labor.
The innovative design of the harvester includes a header for lifting the crop and a hydraulic filling unit for loading the pumpkins into bins. These developments have reduced the required crew from 24 to just four people. The machine is built on a modified rolling potato harvester chassis from AVR, with a specially designed header that gently lifts the pumpkins off the soil without causing damage.
After harvesting, the pumpkins go through a cleaning and washing process before being packed and distributed to retailers across the UK and Europe. The machine is equipped with a self-cleaning water tank to minimize water usage and is designed to work efficiently even in wet conditions.
The harvested pumpkins undergo further grading in the packhouse, where they are sorted, labeled, and packed for shipping. David Bowman Pumpkins, with over 50 years of experience in pumpkin production, supplies major retailers like Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, and Iceland, as well as farm shops and pumpkin patches. Additionally, David Bowman Pumpkins supports the local community by donating pumpkins to primary school children and sponsoring the annual Spalding Pumpkin Festival.
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SOURCE
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.
