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SevenFields packhouse and orchards 2016

A great view of the state of the art packhouse. The season has only just begun with small volumes.
A great view of the state of the art packhouse. The season has only just begun with small volumes.
Fruit is brought straight from the fields in 400 kg plastic crates.
Fruit is brought straight from the fields in 400 kg plastic crates.
The packhouse is fully automated and can be run with just five people.
The packhouse is fully automated and can be run with just five people.
It is three years old and one of the most modern in South Australia.
It is three years old and one of the most modern in South Australia.
Waxing lengthen shelve life and improves appearance of the fruit.
Waxing lengthen shelve life and improves appearance of the fruit.
The fruit can be traced almost back to the tree.
The fruit can be traced almost back to the tree.
The system is from Maf Roda, this is the Global Scan which takes 20 photos of each piece of fruit to grade quality, size and colour.
The system is from Maf Roda, this is the Global Scan which takes 20 photos of each piece of fruit to grade quality, size and colour.
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Insight 2 measures the brix level of the fruit.
Insight 2 measures the brix level of the fruit.
There are 16 fully automated bin feeders, the bins are stacked three high before being removed. The advantage of sorting into bins is that the fruit is not in cartons until the order is confirmed meaning no repacking.
There are 16 fully automated bin feeders, the bins are stacked three high before being removed. The advantage of sorting into bins is that the fruit is not in cartons until the order is confirmed meaning no repacking.
They can process 90 bins per minute.
They can process 90 bins per minute.
Quality control area: Claire does this manually, there is a visual, weight and diameter check. This step provides essential feedback to the grower on packout rates.
Quality control area: Claire does this manually, there is a visual, weight and diameter check. This step provides essential feedback to the grower on packout rates.
Sorted fruit in bins and cartons.
Sorted fruit in bins and cartons.
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When orders come in the machines are programmed accordingly to fill boxes.
When orders come in the machines are programmed accordingly to fill boxes.
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The fruit is suctioned up and placed in cartons.
The fruit is suctioned up and placed in cartons.
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The fruit is placed into dimples to be in position for suction cups.
The fruit is placed into dimples to be in position for suction cups.
This is the last check done by here by Ben Jones.
This is the last check done by here by Ben Jones.
Seven Fields is big on quality assurance: random cartons are selected for a thorough check.
Seven Fields is big on quality assurance: random cartons are selected for a thorough check.
Label information and carton weight is checked.
Label information and carton weight is checked.
Size is checked.
Size is checked.
Hanni checks the oranges for quality individually and to ensure that each one has a sticker.
Hanni checks the oranges for quality individually and to ensure that each one has a sticker.
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The cartons head for the automated paletizer.
The cartons head for the automated paletizer.
The cartons are collected a layer at a time.
The cartons are collected a layer at a time.
Then stacked.
Then stacked.
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The pallets are automatically cornered and strapped.
The pallets are automatically cornered and strapped.
The pallet is labelled.
The pallet is labelled.
Pallets waiting to go to the supermarkets.
Pallets waiting to go to the supermarkets.
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There two holing rooms as well as 5 pre cooler rooms which can take the heat out of the fruit overnight.
There two holing rooms as well as 5 pre cooler rooms which can take the heat out of the fruit overnight.
Luke Richardson - Packhouse Manager
Luke Richardson - Packhouse Manager
Carton erection machine.
Carton erection machine.
After leaving the packhouse we went out to visit a couple of Seven Fields' farms.
After leaving the packhouse we went out to visit a couple of Seven Fields' farms.
These trees were Valencias but have been grafted to bear Washington Navels as the juicing industry took a down turn.
These trees were Valencias but have been grafted to bear Washington Navels as the juicing industry took a down turn.
The navels are around 3-4 weeks from harvest.
The navels are around 3-4 weeks from harvest.
All of the orchards have drip irrigation.
All of the orchards have drip irrigation.
ARC seedless lemons.
ARC seedless lemons.
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Orange sizes are expected to be 56s-72s-88s
Orange sizes are expected to be 56s-72s-88s
Grapefruit is early this season.
Grapefruit is early this season.
They already have great colour...
They already have great colour...
... and size.
... and size.
Fruit inside the tree has best colour.
Fruit inside the tree has best colour.
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Lots of fruit on the trees.
Lots of fruit on the trees.
An example of top-work, grafting from Tangelo to Cara Cara.
An example of top-work, grafting from Tangelo to Cara Cara.
Trees are painted white to stop them getting sunburnt.
Trees are painted white to stop them getting sunburnt.
Mistique a new unseeded mandarin variety, later than Afoura to extend season.
Mistique a new unseeded mandarin variety, later than Afoura to extend season.
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These Afoura get netting over then to stop cross pollination, the UK market demands 100% seedless.
These Afoura get netting over then to stop cross pollination, the UK market demands 100% seedless.
Lots of fruit on the trees.
Lots of fruit on the trees.
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Mildura had had around 40mm of rain in the last couple of days.
Mildura had had around 40mm of rain in the last couple of days.
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Andy Hancock, farm manager.
Andy Hancock, farm manager.
Seven Fields also has 10 ha of avocados.
Seven Fields also has 10 ha of avocados.
Richard took the decision two years ago to drastically prune back the trees, they have come back with vengeance.
Richard took the decision two years ago to drastically prune back the trees, they have come back with vengeance.
Sun West is the Flagship farm in the Seven Fields organisation.
Sun West is the Flagship farm in the Seven Fields organisation.
This farm has 400 ha of citrus, 160 of which is under permanent netting.
This farm has 400 ha of citrus, 160 of which is under permanent netting.
The netting stops cross pollination and also protects the crop from hail which not common in the are but when it strikes it can do huge damage.
The netting stops cross pollination and also protects the crop from hail which not common in the are but when it strikes it can do huge damage.
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Trees are heavy with fruit.
Trees are heavy with fruit.
Extenday, an new ground cover is being trialled, it accelerates the growing process and the fruit ripens faster, an advantage to getting to the UK market before the tarifs cone into place in mid September.
Extenday, an new ground cover is being trialled, it accelerates the growing process and the fruit ripens faster, an advantage to getting to the UK market before the tarifs cone into place in mid September.
Lane navels are 100% for markets such as Japan and China.
Lane navels are 100% for markets such as Japan and China.
Tango trees 9 months old, it will be another 3 years before the have commercial volumes.
Tango trees 9 months old, it will be another 3 years before the have commercial volumes.
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Datsey, Tommy and Richard inspect the crop.
Datsey, Tommy and Richard inspect the crop.
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The nets give a very different atmosphere that outside, growing conditions are also better in here.
The nets give a very different atmosphere that outside, growing conditions are also better in here.
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The farm has frost fans which activate automatically when there is a risk of frost.
The farm has frost fans which activate automatically when there is a risk of frost.
Each fan can protect around 3ha, there are 5 in total.
Each fan can protect around 3ha, there are 5 in total.
Tommy Braybrook, Farm Manager.
Tommy Braybrook, Farm Manager.