Josep Maria Font – Page 3

Giropoma starts up a new robotic line for the selection and packaging of its apples

For Giropoma, technology and innovation have always been key elements to remain competitive in the market. In this sense, the company has made a new commitment and has launched a new robotic line for the selection and triage of apples, as well as for their automatic packaging.

Speed is one of the main benefits of this new robotic line, since it has a packing capacity twice as fast as the lines currently available to the apple producer and marketer, and is capable of packing up to 5,000 kilos of fruit per hour.

Technology also plays a key role in terms of benefits, because with this, the machine is able to select and separate apples into three categories: category I, which includes the fruit that goes directly to the packaging robots; category II, which includes fruit that is packaged in bulk, and that has some skin defect; and category III, which collects the fruit that has more serious defects or bruises, and that is destined for the industry to produce juices, compotes and other derivatives. This selection is possible thanks to a set of cameras that analyze 100% of the apple’s surface and, by means of a series of 30 photographs, detect any skin defects or bruises through the dual-sensor technology of each camera. In addition, it also has a second scanner for the detection of internal defects.

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning the robotic section of the machine, which, by means of another series of cameras, is capable of facing, orienting and placing each piece inside the cavity or inside the box as smoothly as possible, thus completing the apple selection and packaging process.

Thus, this robotized line has a total of 72 sets of cameras, of different types, which allow the automation of the entire sorting and packaging process thanks to the management of an important computerized equipment that manages the entire procedure.

“Despite this complexity, the machine can be controlled intuitively and easily from its control center, where the entire process can be controlled in real time through a series of screens,” shares Eduard Borrell, Maintenance Manager at Giropoma.

Technology has always been a big bet for Giropoma. Innovation is part of the company’s DNA and, therefore, it is key to mechanize and automate processes as much as possible.

Giropoma collaborates once again this year in the solidarity initiative Gala Pro Baix Ter 2023

For the third consecutive year, Giropoma has collaborated in the organization of the III Gala Pro Baix Ter 2023, together with the Auditorium Theater Espai Ter (Torroella de Montgrí), which took place last Saturday September 30 at its facilities. It is a solidarity initiative that aims to support and raise funds for projects of social interest, as well as contribute to improving the quality of life of people and the landscape of the Baix Ter. This third edition has been dedicated to raise funds for the Associations of Families of Students of the 7 schools of kindergarten and primary education of the Baix Ter.

Each of the schools will use the proceeds to carry out improvement projects in their centers. In the case of AFA Guillem de Montgrí, will label the vegetation of the playground; AFA San Gabriel, will incorporate an awning for sun protection; AFA Portitxol, will invest it in psychomotor material; AFA Puig Redondo, will expand the library material and carry out improvements to the playground; AFA Lo Rejaret, will invest it in the playground project; AFA La Rama, will invest it in the realization of an inclusive playground; and AFA Francesc Cambó, will invest it in the library project.

The celebration began at 5:30 pm with the I Festival of the AFA of Baix Ter, an open day where each school proposed various workshops and activities outside the auditorium, and solidarity apples of Giropoma could be purchased.

From 8:00 pm, the gala continued inside with the musical proposal “Women of Rock”. A review of the history of rock from the female side, where we could see how women have had a much more relevant role than the great pop artists. “The Women of Rock” showed us all styles, eras and geographies, from the blues of the 40s to the electronic music of today.

Antoni Roviras, director of the Auditorium Theater Espai Ter, considers that the III Gala Pro Baix Ter has allowed them to reach the whole territory of Baix Ter through the 7 Associations of Families of Students: “It has been a major organizational challenge, but the assessment we make is very positive, since it has demonstrated the usefulness of the event to make improvements that benefit the whole of society”.

In addition, Roviras highlights the complicity in the work with the AFA: “It has been a very important learning, which has made us see the work capacity and mobilization of people in the territory of Baix Ter. From the work of the gala a new event has emerged, the I Festival of the AFA of Baix Ter, with the intention of doing it annually and to be a call to strengthen these associations that in a voluntary way work for the improvement of the centers”.

After a first edition in 2021, where the collection was directed to the residences of elderly people, and a second in 2022, where the funds collected were destined to the ADF Montgrí and Puig Segalar, this has been accompanied by very positive results that will be released in full to the Associations of Families of Students of the 7 schools of kindergarten and primary education mentioned above.

Giropoma predicts a good season despite the drought

Since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, with the harvest of the Gala variety, Giropoma has predicted a good apple harvest. According to data from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Poma de Girona, which groups the apple producing and marketing companies of the province of Girona, a harvest of 88,570 tons is expected, a figure very similar to that of the closing of the 2022 campaign.

Despite being a year marked by high temperatures and low water availability, this campaign is characterized by the high quality of the apples, good size and excellent sugar content.

In the symbolic act of the harvest of the first apple, held on August 10, 2023 and organized annually by the IGP Poma de Girona, Joan Bonany, IRTA expert, commented that drought has been a constant concern of this season, but through efficient irrigation systems and communication with irrigation communities, it has been possible to minimize its effects.

For his part, Jaume Armengol, president of the PGI Poma de Girona, shared that the drop in temperatures at night has allowed the apple to take its color and the relevant sugars.

For Giropoma, the drought has been very present at all times, but it has not been a decisive element in terms of the results of the campaign. Thanks to the irrigation system based on soil moisture sensors that the company has had in place since 2018, which consists of soil monitoring based on probes that measure the volumetric water content in the soil, and the thinning that was carried out to ensure that the fruit could reach harvest with the desired quality, it has been possible to lighten the effects of this situation.

Even so, despite the fact that the Catalan Water Agency declared an emergency for the Fluvià Muga aquifer, with the aim of preventing the 22 municipalities of Alt Empordà that depend on the aquifer from having supply problems, it has not affected apple tree production this season.

Giropoma attends the Summer Fruit Day organized by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology

Giropoma has attended the Summer Fruit Day that took place on August 3, 2023 at the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) Mas Badia in Tallada d’Empordà. A technical conference organized by the reference institute of the agri-food sector in Catalonia to kick off the harvest of Gala apples.

In this edition, several innovation topics were discussed, the novelties in relation to Gala apple selections, tree conduction systems and the state of pests and diseases.

In addition, part of the information presented was the result of the “DEMO GALA CLONES”, “DEMO FRUITSCAN” and “DEMO TRAINING SYSTEMS” demonstrations, innovative activities that test the viability or operation, under real conditions, of production systems, technologies and organizational systems that can represent a substantial improvement in the competitiveness or environmental sustainability of agricultural, livestock or forestry farms, the agri-food industry or food handicraft activities, and the “PICKBEST” and “POMELIFE” Operational Groups, associations of several partners with common interests around a specific and practical innovation project.

The day began with his presentation and continued with a tour of the field stations. The tour began with the “Demo Gala: new selections of the Gala variety and harvesting protocols for quality improvement” and the “Demo training systems in apple trees: walls and multi-axis“, with Joaquim Carbó and Jaume Lordan, experts from IRTA.

Next, other IRTA experts, Adriana Escudero, Pere Vilardell and Jordi Cabrefiga, spoke about the current situation of Halyomorpha halys or bernat mabrejat in Girona, an insect of Asian origin that has become a pest that mainly affects fruit trees, ornamentals, horticultural and extensive crops, and the status of Glomerella, a fungal plant pathogen that causes fruit rot diseases.

Then, Miguel Ángel Fuentes from NATURA Montfred presented the first results of the Operational Group “GO PomeLife: renaturation in apple tree plantations“, and Glòria Àvila, expert from IRTA, those of “GO Pickbest: the Golden best harvested“.

Finally, the companies Green Atlas and Agerpix showed artificial vision technologies for the management of thinning and crop estimation in fruit plantations, and Spedo, Niubó and Industrias David, the latest tools for mechanical weeding.

A day with more than 140 attendees that marks the beginning of the 2023 campaign. “It is a day of reference, and without a doubt, the expectations of the participants are always met. The main companies and professionals in the fruit sector in Girona and the rest of Catalonia attend, with the aim of keeping up to date with new developments, assessing problems…. And, therefore, it is a good time to weave synergies, share impressions and promote relationships with other professionals in the sector and IRTA experts,” shares Àlex Riuró, head of the Quality, Occupational Risk Prevention and Human Resources department at Giropoma.

Giropoma collaborates one more year in the solidarity initiative Gala Pro Baix Ter that will take place on September 30th

For the third consecutive year, Giropoma, together with the Auditori Teatre Espai Ter, collaborates in the organization of the III Gala Pro Baix Ter 2023, a solidarity initiative that aims to support and raise funds for projects of social interest of the Baix Ter.

This third edition, which will take place on Saturday September 30, 2023 at the Auditori Teatre Espai Ter (Torroella de Montgrí), will be dedicated to raising funds for the Associations of Families of Students of the 7 nursery and primary schools of Baix Ter.

The schools Guillem de Montgrí and Sant Gabriel in Torroella de Montgrí, Portitxol in Estartit, Puig Rodó in Ullà, El Rajaret in Bellcaire d’Empordà, La Branca in Albons and Francesc Cambó in Verges will receive the total collection to carry out improvement projects in their schools.

The celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the I Festival of the AFA of Baix Ter, an open day where each school will propose various workshops and activities outside the auditorium, and solidarity apples from Giropoma will be available for purchase.

From 20:00 h, the Gala will continue inside with the musical proposal “Women of Rock“. A review of the history of rock from the female side, where we will see how women have had a much more important role than the great pop artists, and we will know the role of some of them, such as Billie Hollyday, Wanda Jackson, Tina Turner, Patti Smith, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Amy Winehouse … “Women of Rock” will show us all styles, eras and geographies, from the blues of the 40s to the electronics of today.

The price of the Gala is 20 € for general admission and 5 € for children under 12 years, which will go entirely to the Associations of Families of Pupils of kindergarten and primary schools in the Baix Ter. Tickets are already on sale on the website of the Auditori Teatre Espai Ter.

Giropoma is committed to the formation of professionals in the agri-food sector

In any field, formation and specialization are key elements to improve the qualification of professionals. In this sense, Giropoma offers students of the agri-food training and/or professionals of the primary sector, the opportunity to visit and get to know the company’s farms in order to learn through real company models. This initiative aims to support the training of professionals in the sector and improve their qualifications.

Recently, the company has received the visit of the students of the Master in Integrated Crop Protection of the University of Lleida, to know their fields, as well as the integrated and organic apple production in Girona.

Also, a few months ago, the students of the 1st year of the Higher Level Training Cycle of Landscaping and Rural Environment of the Forestry Agricultural School of Santa Coloma de Farners, were also able to know the apple orchards and the different ways to manage them.

Along the same lines, in November last year, we celebrated Pink Lady® Day with the students of the Cendrassos High School in Figueres. The company opened the doors of the farm of one of the partner-producers to discover how the Pink Lady® (Cripps Pink variety) apple harvest works.

Giropoma continues supporting specialized training and contributing to the knowledge of the professionals of the sector.

The irrigation system based on soil moisture sensors allows Giropoma to be more eficient

Since 2018, Giropoma has implemented an irrigation system based on soil moisture sensors to indicate the humidity and water available for apple trees. It is a network of sensors distributed throughout the productive area which, through the data extracted and a climate forecast, allow them to give weekly irrigation recommendations to their partners – producers. These recommendations are made twice a week, and are useful for them to know if they have to increase irrigation, or on the contrary, decrease it, or keep it the same.

The method consists of soil monitoring based on probes that measure the volumetric content of water in the soil, and based on this volume, they know the amount of water available. The sensors are placed at 20 cm from the surface, in order to have a control of the water on the surface; at 40 cm, where the most relevant amount of apple tree roots are located; and at 60 cm, the area where there are no more roots and water is not available for the trees.

These tools, which provide information on the approximate distribution of water in the soil, allow the company to check the degree of humidity and whether the irrigation being carried out is correct. This means that the water reaches up to 40 cm from the surface, where the roots of the apple trees are located, or on the contrary, irrigation is insufficient, or more water is being used than necessary.

However, the data are indicative and it is necessary to know the type of soil and the field in question. For this reason, Giropoma has different points where they monitor soil moisture, since each field has different ways of obtaining water and different types of soil.

In recent years, with this system based on soil moisture sensors, the company has detected a 30% decrease in irrigation water compared to the water balance method previously used. In other words, less water is being irrigated compared to the traditional way of calculating irrigation needs. The way of calculating needs based on probes, with sensors in the soil, has allowed them to use less water and, therefore, to be more efficient and rational.

It has been 5 years since the company implemented this 100% efficient method and, despite the current exceptional state of drought, it has not had to take any special measures or make any modifications in terms of water rationing and irrigation recommendations, thanks to this long-standing irrigation optimization action.

In this case, the one that does play an important role for Giropoma is fruit thinning, emphasizing this practice to ensure the viability and quality of the apples of the new season. It is of vital importance to ensure that the fruit units that can reach the harvest have the desired quality, as well as to avoid possible fields with excess fruit. In this way, the rest of the fruit can develop correctly and contribute to saving water.

Currently, the lack of rainfall and the low availability of water, which accentuate the drought episode, hinder the production process of apples and the rest of the crops.

PICKBEST project, determination of the optimal harvest time to satisfy the consumer and adapt to new preservation technologies

Giropoma Costa Brava S.L., together with Girona Fruits SCCL and Fructícola Empordà S.L; and with the participation of IRTA as a technological center; is working on the determination of the optimal harvest time of yellow “Golden” and red apples of the “Gala” group to satisfy the consumer and to adapt to the new preservation technologies (PICKBEST). The preferences of apple consumers have been changing over time, towards apples with more color and maturity.

To this trend we have to add the emergence of the application of 1-MCP as well as long shelf life preservation with dynamic atmosphere systems.

All these changes create the need to define new pre-harvest and postharvest parameters to obtain apples that adapt to the new consumption trends. The main objective of PICKBEST will respond to this need through the following specific objectives:

Establish harvesting parameters that maximize consumer satisfaction under the technical itinerary marked by new technologies.
To develop tools and a visual scale of red tone, in the case of “GALA” clones, to determine the optimal harvest time based on the established harvest parameters.

PICKBEST is framed within the aid provided by the Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for agricultural productivity and sustainability, financed by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

“Project funded through the Operation 16.01.01 Cooperation for Innovation of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2022.”

POMELIFE project, renaturalization and promotion of biodiversity in apple tree plantations in Girona

Giropoma Costa Brava SL, together with Girona Fruits SCCL and Fructícola Empordà SL; and with the participation of IRTA as a technological center; is working on the renaturalization and promotion of biodiversity in apple tree plantations in Girona (POMELIFE). The intensification of agricultural practices leads to an increase in the productivity of farms, even so, it causes an alteration of the landscape and a decrease in biodiversity in agrosystems, favoring the appearance of pests.

For this reason, the main objective of POMELIFE is to define a design for apple tree plantations to make agricultural activity compatible with the conservation and promotion of biodiversity. This new plantation design will balance the ecosystem by helping to control pests and reduce the use of phytosanitary products.

POMELIFE is framed within the aid provided by the Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for agricultural productivity and sustainability, financed by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

“Project funded through the Operation 16.01.01 Cooperation for Innovation of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2022.”

SCABKILL project, rationalization of the use of phytosanitary products in the control of apple scab

Giropoma Costa Brava SL, as leader, together with Girona Fruits SCCL, Fructícola Empordà SL, Serrater SL and Agroalimentaria Mas Saulot SL; and with the participation of IRTA as technological center; is working on the development of precision treatment systems and inoculum management techniques to rationalize the use of phytosanitary products in the control of apple apple scab (SCABKILL).

In the Girona area, the control of apple apple scab concentrates more than 80% of the phytosanitary treatments, being the control of primary infections in spring one of the critical points for the management of the disease.

In this context, the main objective of the SCABKILL project is to define a comprehensive strategy for the sustainable control of apple scab by:

– Developing tools to manage the primary inoculum of ground leaves.

– Evaluating systems that allow forcing the release of inoculum at a time without risk of disease

– Using precision dusting systems to improve the efficiency of treatments

– Evaluating sustainable alternatives to synthetic products.

SCABKILL is framed within the European Innovation Partnership Operational Groups support for agricultural productivity and sustainability, financed by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

“Project funded through the Operation 16.01.01 Cooperation for Innovation of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2022.”