Mechanical harvesting of black corinth raisins

The Black Corinth (Zante Currant) is a specialty raisin produced in the central San Joaquin Valley. Its main popularity is with the baking trade where the small, fruity, and tender raisin is ideal. Traditionally, the grapes have been hand picked and dried on trays in the vineyard. The variety has the advantage of being the earliest ripening and harvested raisin variety. However, hand harvest is difficult and costly because the clusters are small and the berries fragile. Pickers too often smash berries and cause juicing on the tray, and understandably complain about the numerous small clusters they must harvest.