GROWING PRACTICES

High-density orchards: Unlike the traditional method of planting 300-500 trees per acre, this European inspired growing technique involves planting 1,000-1,500 trees per acre. Trees grown in this fashion are kept small and are pruned regularly, which allows the sun to come into contact with the apples throughout their entire maturation, making for better quality tree-ripened fruit. Keeping the trees small and narrow also allows workers to pick more apples during harvest. Half of the harvest team remains at ground level to pick the apples at the bottom of the tree and the rest of the team picks from a raised platform so they may collect apples from the top of the tree. This allows for all apples that are mature to be gathered from the trees at the same time, and at just the right time. This best practice eliminates the need for ladders, increases the rate at which the apples are picked and decreases the occurrence of workplace accidents.

Eco-sprayers: Our eco-sprayers [technology developed by Marius Botden] reduce the amount of crop treatments used by 30 percent. When used in combination with the high-density planting systems, as is the case with the Red Prince, eco-sprayers reduce pesticide application by 75 percent from conventional apple growing orchards.

Drip irrigation: This method of applying slow, steady and precise amounts of water and nutrients to the apple trees results in water conservation and allows the apples to grow at a regulated rate, so the fruit is more uniformly consistent.

Precision planting: Guided by GPS technology, precision planting increases orchard yield by preventing misappropriation of moisture and nutrients.

Advanced grading systems: These technologies ensure that only the best apples are distributed to the marketplace.

Advancing Orchard Robotics with Finite Robotics: At Blue Mountain Fruit Company, we are working closely with Finite Robotics to explore and develop practical robotic technologies designed for modern orchard systems. Their engineering expertise, combined with our real-world orchard environment, allows us to refine concepts such as robotic thinning, automated fruit handling, and intelligent vision-guided tools

This hands-on collaboration gives us valuable insight into how robotics can improve efficiency, reduce repetitive labour, and support long-term innovation in our orchards.

Enhancing Crop Load Precision with Vivid Machines: We are proud to work with Vivid Machines, whose advanced imaging and AI technologies allow us to accurately measure fruitlets, crop load, and canopy development throughout the growing season.

Real-time orchard scans give our team a detailed and objective understanding of what is happening across every block, enabling more precise thinning strategies, stronger yield predictions, and improved consistency for our packing operation.

This technology isn’t replacing our experience, it’s amplifying it, helping us grow better apples with greater efficiency.

Environmentally Responsible Spraying with the H.S.S. I.S.A. Sprayer: Sustainability is a core value at Blue Mountain Fruit Company. Our use of the H.S.S. I.S.A. sprayer reflects our commitment to environmentally responsible production.

This innovative sprayer reduces drift, improves application accuracy, and allows us to use fewer inputs while achieving better coverage. The Intelligent Spraying Application system ensures materials are placed exactly where the tree needs them, saving resources, protecting surrounding environments, and supporting our long-term stewardship of the land.

Smarter Irrigation Through Watermark Sensors: To manage orchard water use responsibly, we rely on a network of Watermark soil-moisture sensors positioned across our farm’s varied soil types and elevations.

These sensors measure soil moisture levels continuously, giving us real-time insight into how each block is using water. By combining sensor data with weather conditions and crop stage, we can make informed irrigation decisions that improve fruit quality, reduce water waste, and support tree health throughout the season.