Robots to Revolutionize Apple Picking in Northwest

The agricultural industry is turning to robots to combat labor shortages due to stricter policies limiting the number of migrant workers, rising labor costs, and fewer young people pursuing careers in farming. Robotics companies are conducting field tests in Central Washington, with suction cup-equipped robots that can pick apples with minimal damage. The industry is beginning to see robotics as a long-term option for filling the labor gap.