The growing and harvesting of mushrooms is not a simple affair. There are numerous factors that can have influence on how many machines you would need and the results that are achievable. Some of these factors are listed below:

a) Working Patterns – If you can implement shift working correctly it should allow you to graze the crop more effectively which will increase yield as well as reduce the number of machines that are required to harvest your mushroom crop, especially in peak times.

b) Customer Requirements – The sizing of mushrooms is ultimately determined by the customer, but if the mushrooms can be picked consistently with an approximate 50mm cap, the best weight per mushroom picked can be achieved. Consistent sizing improves presentation in the container.

c) Pinning – The Gamechanger is designed to work no matter the pinning of the crop. Reducing the pinning can increase picking volumes per hour, but may be offset with a reduction in crop yield which can be detrimental to profits.

d) Crop Grazing with the Gamechanger - Pickers in many countries do not graze the crop. This can be due to lack of training or due to a lack of knowledge. If mushroom crops are grazed you have the benefits of improved yield, bigger mushrooms, more consistent sizing of the mushrooms in the containers, less oversized mushrooms with a corresponding reduction in 2nd Grade mushrooms. The Gamechanger with its integrated lift system does improve crop grazing. Some would argue that grazing the crop could increase yield by 10% or more.

e) Stalk trimming – This can increase yield by over 5% in many cases. Cutting stalks short or at an angle can have a significant impact on the kgs per hour picked or the number of mushrooms needed to get the required weight.

f) Accurate Weighing – Even when filling punnets inside trays the Gamechanger Pro is weighing the punnets accurately. Correcting wrong weight is greatly reduced and handling mushrooms in the packing room does mark mushrooms.

g) Picker Support – We have found that when pickers are supported by bringing in empty containers and taking away the full trays on a more frequent basis picking rates have increased.

h) Resistance to change – The biggest challenge in the farm may be a resistance to change. This may extend from pickers, support staff as well as farm management. This resistance can be hard to overcome and requires effort, planning and management input.

i) Staff training – Staff need to be adequately instructed as to what is the aim, what steps are needed in order to achieve the required results, as well as how important the results are to the business in the future. Consistent monitoring of pickers in the initial stages needs to be maintained as they generally revert back to what they did previously.

j) Staff Renumeration – We have found that wages should increase with the Gamechanger / Gamechanger Pro to incentivise the pickers to push for more weight but it should be around 15% – 20% extra above normal daily rates. However, the savings are made by an actual reduction to about half the staff normally required. This will produce an incentivised workforce with better pickers, and removing less productive pickers from the workforce on the farm.

The aim at Mushroom Machine Company Ltd is to reduce the work involved in harvesting mushrooms while improving accuracy, presentation, yield and crop analysis. Low cost and high reliability are coupled with support and consultancy that will ensure you get the results you require.