GoKawiilVivid Machines' AI cameras help Washington apple grower predict harvest timing
Okanagan Specialty Fruits, which farms over 1,250 acres of apple orchards in Washington State, is testing camera-based AI from Canadian firm Vivid Machines to forecast crop yields and optimal harvest dates. The cameras, mounted on tractors, capture images of trees so AI can identify buds, flowers and fruit, producing crop estimates alongside weather-informed harvest timing. Company representative Joel Carter says the system catches small flower buds humans might miss, though forecast accuracy depends on the quality of historical data fed into it.
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Harvest timing errors can be costly: hiring seasonal workers too early or too late wastes money, and for high-value, perishable crops like berries, missing the optimal picking window can mean losing out on peak prices. Extreme heat, as seen last year in Washington, can also force work stoppages, making predictive tools potentially valuable for scheduling labor around both ripeness and worker safety. The reliance on historical data quality suggests these AI systems may need region- or farm-specific tuning to be reliable, which could affect how quickly growers adopt them.
- Okanagan Specialty Fruits is testing AI-powered cameras from Vivid Machines to predict apple harvest timing.
- The cameras, mounted on tractors, use AI to detect buds, flowers, and fruit, including features too small to spot easily by eye.
- Forecast accuracy depends on the quality of historical data, and such tools aim to help manage labor costs and heat-related safety risks.
Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter — For growers timing a harvest around heat and weather risk, a rugged handheld weather meter like the Kestrel 5500 gives instant, on-the-spot readings of temperature, humidity, and heat stress conditions in the orchard. It's a practical complement to AI harvest-prediction tools, helping farm crews decide in real time when it's safe and optimal to keep picking.
See Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: bbc.co.uk — Watch Our Pick Of Standout Clips Across The Bbc, 2026-09-30
Published there as: “The AI telling farmers when to harvest”
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