Newly launched fruit de-seeder, pokes a hole and removes seeds in just five seconds
Making dried fruit from fresh fruit can extend its shelf life, but the most troublesome part is that the seeds must be removed by hand. The Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station spent two years converting a machine originally used to core pineapples into a jujube seed-removal machine. All you have to do is place the jujubes on the conveyor belt and pull down the handle, and the machine will automatically punch a hole and remove the pit. It could be called the "slot machine of the jujube world." It can also be fully automated, and the hole-punching parts can be swapped out for use on red dates, plums, sweet peaches, roselle, lemons and more. Many farmers' associations have already expressed strong interest, and production has now been handed over to a technology-transfer manufacturer.
Remove the seed in five seconds
At present, the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area produces about 25,000 tonnes of jujubes each year. If made into dried fruit, the shelf life can be extended by at least half a year, which is a great help for regulating the production period. Last week, an observation meeting was held at the Alian Farmers' Association, attracting hundreds of jujube farmers and preserved-fruit processors, who eagerly asked when it would go on the market. However, the price of the seed-removal machine has not yet been set. The Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station hopes manufacturers can keep it under 100,000, so that more farming friends can benefit.
Wu Chun-kai, director of the supply and marketing department of the Alian District Farmers' Association, said that dried jujubes are extremely popular and are in short supply before and after the Lunar New Year. They can also use fruit with a poorer appearance, extending the shelf life to 9 months, which is a great help to farmers. He very much hopes there will be an automated machine to help remove seeds, but suggests adding several more conveyor belts to run at the same time and increase efficiency. At present, the fully automated machine and the semi-automatic manual seed-removal machine are similar in efficiency, removing about one fruit every 5 seconds.
The seed-removal machine can be used not only on jujubes, but also, by changing the hole-punching parts according to fruit size, on all kinds of dried fruit that need seed removal, such as roselle, red dates, plums, sweet peaches, lemons and so on. The Miaoli Gongguan Farmers' Association, which is a major producer of red dates, also expressed strong interest that day.
Those interested may contact Assistant Researcher Huang Po-sheng of the Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, 08-7389158 ext. 787