The economics of mechanical harvesting of tomatoes in the Salinas Valley, California

Graduation date: 1966A study was made to determine and examine the economics of\ud the mechanical harvest of tomatoes in the Salinas Valley of California.\ud To achieve this objective, it was necessary to detail the related cultural requirements of the machine harvested crop to the extent they budget technique, two economic models; one for hand picking and one\ud for machine harvest and making the necessary comparisons. The results\ud found could not be compared with findings of other researchers\ud since only fragmentary economic data pertaining to the complete cost\ud structure of a mechanical tomato harvesting operation are available.\ud The special cultural requirements of the tomato crop to permit\ud mechanical harvest were discussed as well as the harvest procedures\ud and practices.\ud The two economic models were structured on the basis of standard\ud cultural practices for hand harvesting and the practices projected\ud and discussed for machine harvesting. Each model was developed for\ud 75 acres of tomatoes as part of a 500 acre diversified farm. Growing\ud conditions were assumed to be normal for both harvesting methods as\ud were yields at 25 tons per acre. Costs in the models were structured\ud on the basis of actual or projected inputs, rates, and prices.\ud Based on conditions, rates, and charges used in the economic\ud models, it was found that the total of all costs for the hand harvest\ud crop were $684 per acre compared to $615 per acre for the machine\ud harvest crop. The harvest costs were found to be $326 per acre for\ud hand harvesting and $246 per acre for machine harvesting. Costs\ud other than harvest were not greatly different.\ud In order to determine the feasibility of a new method of harvest,\ud the effect on revenue must be considered as well as the impact on\ud costs. Gross revenue from the machine harvest operation was $713\ud per acre, which was eight dollars less per acre than for hand harvesting.\ud However, because of the much lower costs of machine harvesting,\ud the net revenue was $98 per acre for the machine harvest\ud model compared to $38 per acre for the hand harvest model. The net\ud advantage in favor of the machine harvest method amounts to $60 per\ud acre.\ud From the information analysed, it was concluded that the capital\ud required for mechanical harvesting equipment would be a limiting factor\ud in many situations. Although acreage could be limiting in some\ud cases, only about 38 acres of tomatoes would be required for justification\ud of mechanical harvesting equipment.\ud It was concluded that the mechanical harvest of tomatoes in the\ud Salinas Valley is currently economically feasible and its advantage\ud over hand picking probably will increase with the passing of time