Harvest Bins vs Picking Lugs (2014)
Jake Busching
Grace Estate
Purpose:
To compare harvesting in bin v. lug containers in terms of time cost during harvest.
Methods:
Time cost of each container was assessed based on time required to load, pick, unload, and clean 3 bins as compared to 60 lugs.
Results:
Assuming that the drive from the field to the winery is the same with lugs as bin; then the time delay involved in using lugs is due almost entirely to the loading and unloading process. Over a 10-hour day this time delay can lead to a 20% reduction in grapes harvested (wt.).
