Hall Hunter Revolutionizes UK Blueberry Production with AI-Driven Sorting Technology

Hall Hunter, the UK’s largest blueberry grower, is set to dramatically enhance its operations with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art Elifab Berry Class 12 lane sorting machine and two automatic punnet fillers from Mat Exakta. This strategic upgrade, becoming fully operational by the end of May 2024, marks a significant leap forward in agricultural technology application within the berry industry.

With an annual supply of approximately 2,200 tons of blueberries to the UK market, Hall Hunter’s influence is substantial. The introduction of AI technology in sorting and packing processes is expected to address several challenges faced by the company, notably in packing and grading. Alana Deacon, Head of Operations at Hall Hunter, emphasized the critical need to minimize labor costs, which have surged by 10%, and to double the company’s packing capacity.

The adoption of Elifab-Ellips grading machinery and Mat Exakta punnet fillers is a deliberate move towards embracing the future of agriculture. The AI-driven technology promises not only to save labor and maintain fruit quality but also to increase capacity. The machines’ advanced features, including multiformat automatic de-nesting and precise grading capabilities, were key factors in Hall Hunter’s decision, along with competitive pricing and robust support from Ed Westerweele, a sales manager at Elifab.

Hall Hunter’s initiative is driven by the desire to remain at the forefront of the blueberry industry, adapting to market demands with innovative field practices and machinery. The Elifab-Ellips grading machine, designed specifically for blueberries, addresses the need for gentle handling to preserve fruit quality, offering flexibility and user-friendliness that align with Hall Hunter’s operational goals.

The anticipated outcomes of this technological upgrade are substantial. Hall Hunter expects to halve its labor force on the packing line from 26 to 12 people per shift, while doubling throughput. This efficiency gain, coupled with more precise grading, aims to maximize yield and meet specifications more effectively.

This venture into cutting-edge sorting and packing technology underscores Hall Hunter’s commitment to setting industry standards, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring the highest quality produce for UK consumers. As Hall Hunter prepares to lead the blueberry industry into a new era of productivity and sustainability, the partnership with Elifab and Mat Exakta stands as a testament to the transformative power of technology in agriculture.