“We are hoping to learn a lot about the technology through the trial to better position themselves as early adopters ... We are very excited about the flexibility we hope it will bring to harvesting in the long term ... Other people been trialling harvesters from the US and NZ, but we like the fact that Ripe Robotics are Australian, they are young and enthusiastic and keen to be in the industry and we would like to work with them."

Alex Turnbull

Apple grower in Shepparton

"Robotics are the game-changer for our industry. Australia produces roughly 0.8 per cent of global citrus production and we're finding it really difficult to try and reign in our costs compared to our competitors. It also provides more reliability. The prune industry, onions, the wineries, they're all tapping into the same labour force and finding it increasingly difficult to find someone willing to stand in 40 degree sun harvesting fruit."

Vito Mancini

Orange grower in Griffith