June 2004
Asparagus is mechanically harvested at 2.5 miles per hour with Bill Lund’s selective harvester. In a 16-hour day, the harvester cuts 52 acres of asparagus.
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Selective Harvest
Asparagus growers in Washington have long wanted an asparagus harvester that's mechanically selective of the spears it cuts, and soon they may be able to buy one. A machine engineered for selective harvest began work this season in a field of Eltopia, Wash., grower Chris Foster, who's cooperating with the Washington State University (WSU) project that brought the machine and its inventor to the Columbia Basin.

Trash a Treasure Improving Soil
Every day, all year long, people are throwing away what could be of vital importance to growers. In fall, leaves pile up in streets and yards waiting to be taken away. In winter, old Christmas trees, holly and wreaths litter garbage cans. In spring, people clean out gutters, ditches and yards to get ready for the green summer grass. And every weekend in the summer, lawns all over America fill with people pushing lawnmowers.
Gone Fishin’ for Greenhouse Profits
Greenhouses not only add extra income by allowing season extension and a controlled growing environment, they can also allow growers to grab some tourism dollars.

Marketplace of Ideas


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