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AI is increasingly vital in cherry grading to ensure batch consistencyToday's cherry market is increasingly demanding, with firmness, color, and Brix degree as key factors influencing commercial value. In this ever-changing industry, UNITEC develops technological solutions for the sorting, handling, and packing of fruit, tree nuts, and fresh vegetables. The primary goal is to help companies boost profitability while consistently producing high-quality batches that meet market standards.
AI gets to the heart of every fruitUNITEC has long integrated artificial intelligence into its systems. Cherry Vision 3.5 AI and 4.0 AI transform post-harvest sorting by enabling packing houses to identify defects and imperfections that are often invisible to the human eye, thanks to advanced AI models. These systems accurately detect defects such as fresh cuts, color inconsistencies, insect damage (such as Drosophila), and surface imperfections. This results in more reliable grading that meets the standards of major retailers and international markets. UNIQ Cherry technology examines more than the fruit's exterior. It assesses internal factors such as ripeness and sugar content that affect flavor. This shifts the focus from merely identifying defects to enhancing the commercial value of each fruit. This enables fruit and vegetable packing houses to segment batches more effectively, reduce value losses, and supply cherries that meet end consumers' flavor preferences. Technology for a more efficient supply chainBeyond technological solutions, UNITEC takes a comprehensive approach to its products and services, supporting fruit and vegetable packing houses at every stage of the process. The automated lines handle cherries from intake through final packing with gentle, rapid, and highly efficient processes. The aim is threefold: to optimize operating costs, reduce waste, and enable fruit and vegetable packers to maximize their profitability. Each installation is customized and incorporates technologies developed in the company's own research and development center. This adaptability enables operators to manage more complex harvest seasons, which are marked by severe weather and greater variability in product quality. User experiencesThe Spanish cherry season has passed its midpoint. It has been a particularly challenging season due to persistent early-season rain and abrupt temperature swings, which have disrupted operations. Despite these challenges and high expectations, Spanish packing houses using UNITEC's cherry grading technologies are achieving very promising results. Llamfruit Cherry, an Aragón-based company, specializing in cherries for more than fifty years, has recently begun using the new Cherry Vision 4.0 AI vision system.
"The main challenge in this context is maintaining consistent quality in shipments despite receiving fruit with a wide range of variation. Today, grading cannot rely solely on size; it requires careful assessment of firmness, color, external defects, and shelf life. This year, the introduction of Unitec's Cherry Vision 4.0 AI technology is helping us manage this complexity. The system enables more accurate and consistent sorting by detecting differences that are difficult to identify reliably by hand. This helps us handle delicate fruit more effectively, sort grades more reliably, and match each batch to the most suitable market, all while maintaining product consistency even during irregular seasons," stated Carlos Llambrich, managing director. The company also estimates a 15% to 20% improvement in operational efficiency compared with previous seasons. On the commercial side, more consistent quality is resulting in fewer complaints and greater customer trust, directly impacting the product's value and boosting the company's competitiveness. The same positive trend is also evident at Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte, a leading growers organization in Extremadura. Here, this technology has helped maintain consistent quality standards, even during periods of peak operational pressure and with highly heterogeneous batches. More precise grading ensures that each produce batch achieves its full value, directing each quality grade to the most appropriate sales channel. This reduces waste and helps maintain the produce's commercial value. From an organizational standpoint, the benefits are clear: The technology enables faster, more objective decision-making, improves management of peak fruit intake periods, and enhances responsiveness during the most critical phases of the season. This is especially important during seasons with heavy rainfall and fluctuating product quality, when operational efficiency and quick decision-making are crucial to commercial success.
UNITEC's real strength lies in creating solutions that provide a competitive edge, as evidenced by Frutas Agrotrain, a family-run company that has maintained the same passion and dedication for three generations. The company highlighted the importance of being able to rely on Cherry Vision 3 technology to sort the fruit with precision, even during particularly challenging harvests, such as the current one. "There are batches of cherries that, without vision technology, we might have left unharvested or discarded directly" they stated. More accurate sorting and reduced labor needs at the packing house are tangible outcomes that deliver value to the company.
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