Polehn Farms, one of the largest cherry growers in Oregon, USA, was the first TOMRA Food customer to install a Cascade Singulator. The family-owned company, which has been packing cherries since 1989, typically handles 2,000 tonnes of cherries per year. “We expected the new TOMRA Fresh Food machine to reduce line maintenance requirements, create a safer working environment and reduce mechanical damage to the fruit. The Cascade Singulator certainly delivers on all of these goals,” says Ken Polehn, owner of Polehn Farms.
“The reduction in mechanical damage to the fruit is very significant, better than we expected. The line has fewer bottlenecks, as we have eliminated bottlenecks in the production process. The machine is quieter and treats the product more gently, and is safer to use than traditional blades. Cleaning a traditional cutter requires seven hours of manpower per day, but the Cascade Singulator only requires one and a half hours. This machine is a game-changer and will revolutionise the cherry industry,” Kehn Polehn adds.
Liz Polhen, co-owner of the company, says that the Cascade Singulator is “a marvel” because it is a very easy-to-use machine and appreciates the technical support they have received from the TOMRA team since the installation. “We will definitely consider TOMRA for our future investments in our cherry line,” she concludes.
