Friday, July 18, 2025
Sunflower watermelon harvesting and packing
It has been about a month since the first shipment and auction of sunflower watermelons began.
On Monday, July 14th, when the sunflower watermelon harvest was at its peak, we visited Takada Co., Ltd. (representative: Takada Shunki) to cover the harvesting and packing of sunflower watermelons.
Each and every fruit is carefully harvested by hand
On this day, the harvest was small, about 80 apples. On a busy day, they harvested as many as 900 apples.
In a 100m greenhouse, we carefully harvest each fruit, checking the color of the fruit stems.
Sunflower and watermelon greenhouse where harvest continues
Use the fruiting stick as a guide...
Carefully harvested one by one
Load it onto a pickup truck...
Harvested sunflower watermelon
High-tech machines increase efficiency! Packing work
The harvested watermelons are carefully loaded into containers and then transported in light trucks to the barn where they are packed into boxes.
Sparkling clean with an automatic brush machine
Starting this year, the "Sato-type automatic brush machine" has been introduced, and it is said that the automatic brush machine has significantly improved work efficiency compared to manual brushing.
This machine automatically polishes the watermelon that is put into it with a special roll and brush. The irregular rotation of the watermelon ensures that the entire surface is evenly cleaned.
Polishing with an automatic brush machine
Efficient selection and packaging
Representative Takada Shunki weighs the watermelons after they have been polished with an automatic brush machine, grades them, and assembles the cardboard boxes, working quickly to ensure the work progresses efficiently.
After the watermelons are polished to a glossy finish and rolled out, they are weighed.
Graded and boxed according to weight
1 ball weight table
Place cardboard dividers between the watermelons
Cardboard box making
The deliciousness baton will last until mid-September
Shipments of sunflower watermelons are expected to continue until mid-September.
We sincerely hope that this exquisite sunflower watermelon, with its crisp, refreshing sweetness and shining lemon yellow color, will reach many more people!!!
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◇ Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi
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