Every harvest brings its own challenges, from the pace of picking to meeting market deadlines.
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Once fruit arrives at the shed, the focus shifts to moving it quickly and carefully through each stage of post-harvest handling.
For apple, pear, citrus, stone fruit, and avocado growers, packaging is the final step before the truck leaves the yard.
It is where quality is secured and shelf life extended, and buyers assess the results of the season’s work.
Small improvements at this stage can make a real difference to efficiency, presentation, and returns.
A smooth post-harvest process starts at intake.
Bins of fruit are gently emptied into water channels using the Bin Robot Water Unloader, reducing bruising and feeding multiple grading lines consistently.
Graders remove blemished or misshapen fruit, so only high-quality produce moves forward, supporting better shelf presentation and reducing waste.
Australian growers, including Montague Fresh in Victoria and Rock Ridge Farming in Far North Queensland, use these systems to handle high-volume flows while maintaining fruit quality.
Once fruit arrives at the shed, the focus shifts to moving it quickly and carefully through each stage of post-harvest handling.
Many of these solutions are supplied and supported by Wyma, in partnership with Manter and Burg, giving growers access to technology which spans intake, grading, and handling for a wide range of fruit, from apples and pears to stone fruit, citrus, and avocados.
Weighing and packaging are essential for efficiency and market compliance.
Multi-head weighers and automated baggers, such as Manter’s M14i D Weigher and Punnet Filler+, handle formats ranging from punnets and stand-up pouches to bags and cartons.
The Punnet Filler+ can load two trays at once at up to 44 trays per minute, while the M14i D Weigher reaches up to 70 bags per minute with buckets easily removed for cleaning.
Flexible packaging options, including recyclable paper and mesh, allow growers to meet supermarket and export standards.
Form-fill-seal systems, tray sealers, and stand-up pouch machines prepare retail-ready packs, and palletising solutions ensure fruit is stacked safely for transport or storage.
Integrated systems also support traceability, capturing grading, weight, and packaging data to assist with compliance and quality assurance.
Efficiency and reliability remain key
Machines built for humid or washdown conditions, with quick cleaning and tool-free changeovers, minimise downtime and make it easy to switch between crops and pack types.
Accurate weighing reduces overfilling, supporting profitability without compromising quality.
Sustainability is increasingly important, with solutions like the Mono Clipper from Manter, available through Wyma, using metal-free closures and recyclable materials to reduce plastic use while maintaining presentation standards for retail and export markets.
Many Australian packhouses rely on these integrated solutions to maintain consistent throughput during peak harvests.
High-volume operations, such as Montague Fresh, process more than 50,000 bins of apples and 15,000 bins of stone fruit each season, plus millions of pre-packs, while smaller growers benefit from gentle handling, accurate weighing, and simplified line management.
Automation also helps address seasonal labour shortages, allowing teams to focus on quality oversight and operational efficiency.
Tree crop packhouses aim to move fruit from orchard to market in optimal condition while improving efficiency.
By combining gentle handling, accurate weighing, flexible packaging, and sustainable materials, growers can meet commercial and environmental expectations while satisfying buyers at home and abroad.
Working with experienced partners like Wyma, together with Manter and Burg, gives Australian growers access to solutions covering every stage of post-harvest management, from intake and grading to packaging and palletising.
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