In 1954 Al Gotelli invented and patented the first in-line mechanical cluster cutter to separate the stems of cherries. Though it has been improved incrementally over the years, the basic concept is still used today, 60 years later.

“We revolutionized the industry then with assembly line packing and we did it again when we first introduced the optical sorting system,” said Daniel Moznett, who is director of marketing at Grower Direct Marketing LLC, the Stockton, CA-based sales arm of O-G Packing.

Of course, Al Gotelli is the “G” in O-G Packing. He started Oneto-Gotelli Packing Co. more than six decades ago and the firm — with its shortened name — has been in the cherry business ever since.

“We are the pioneers,” Moznett boasted.

He said just as the cluster cutter became an industry standard, so has the optical scanner. “We have the largest optical sorting system in the country,” he noted.

Dennis Gogna with young cherries.Moznett said O-G Packing is on its second-generation machine, which is a 72-lane sorter. “It has two cameras [on each lane] that take at least 60 pictures of every cherry and sorts and sizes for many different characteristics. You name it and this optical sorter checks for it.”

He said most buyers marvel about the consistent pack that is produced with an electronic optical sorter. Moznett said it also results in a much better piece of fruit because the individual cherries do not have to be handled and squeezed to judge their ripeness. That results in less bruising. He said the electronic sorters are also much faster than their human counterparts and speed up the packing process.

Grower Direct continues to promote its pouch package, which Moznett said has become the industry standard because of its high graphics and the great presentation it creates for cherries. “It is a very good promotional tool,” he said.”

Grower Direct offers the pack as a two-pounder and it also has other options for the buying community including clamshells and bulk packs.

The company represents cherry growers from the southern San Joaquin Valley district through the northern districts in California, and also has two growers in the state of Washington. Consequently, Moznett said, it expects to ship its first cherry carton this year in the April 18-22 time frame and will have fruit into August from the Northwest.