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[Thomas Olenio <tolenio@sentex.net>]

Lon J. Rombough wrote:
<snip>
In the vineyard, it is simply torn off at harvest time and collected for
recycling.  You would have to put it up on the blueberries every year, but
it's cheap.  <snip

Hello,

During my visit to Vineland in Niagara, I was under the impression that harvesting
machines literally knock the grape crop off the vine and the grapes fall
through the bird netting.

Grape Harvester:

http://www.lodinews.com/visitors2003/art/harvest.jpg

I have seen the machinery, but not in use.  As it was explained to me by
the vineyard owner. the harvester straddles the row of grapes, knocks the
berries from their clusters, and the berries are collected and moved on conveyor
belts.

He made special note to indicate that the netting over the berries is specially
sized so that the grapes can be harvested (they fell through the netting)
with the harvester, but birds could not get to the crop.  

Possibly it is dicarded after harvest.

Later,
Tom




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