A Study of potato harvesting at Tulelake, California

Conclusions

There was practically no difference in the amount of serious injury between hand and mechanical harvesting by the time the potatoes were in storage. There was less injury in the field with the hand method but rough handling of the stubs in loading onto the trucks and in emptying at the storage shed, caused a considerable increase. More damage than necessary occurred with both methods in conveying the potatoes into the storage bins. Reducing the drop into the conveyor hopper, better padding in the hopper, and keeping the drop from the discharge end to a minimum, would help to reduce this damage.