Fresh cherry line solutions from Bigtem deliver complete, gentle-handling systems for washing, sorting, pitting, cooling, freezing, and packaging of fresh cherries.
Processors use our fresh cherry line for high-quality fresh market cherries, frozen cherries, cherry pie filling, and other value-added cherry products. These lines efficiently handle capacities from several hundred kg/h up to several tons per hour. With dedicated US-based support through VegTech Systems in Alpharetta, GA, you get fast project engineering, professional installation, operator training, and reliable ongoing service.
Complete Fresh Cherry Processing Line Flow
Our turnkey fresh cherry line is specifically engineered for delicate fruit handling to preserve quality and maximize yield throughout the entire process:
- Receiving & Feeding: Gentle intake hoppers and conveyors with surge capacity designed to minimize bruising and damage during peak harvest periods.
- Washing & Cleaning: High-efficiency multi-stage washing systems with air agitation that thoroughly clean the cherries while protecting their delicate skin.
- Sorting & Grading: Advanced optical sorters combined with manual quality stations for accurate color, size, and defect removal to ensure only premium cherries proceed.
- Pitting: Precision cherry pitting machines that remove pits with minimal flesh loss, low juice leakage, and high throughput.
- Cooling: Rapid hydro-cooling or forced-air cooling systems that quickly bring down fruit temperature to maintain firmness and extend shelf life.
- IQF Freezing (optional): High-velocity individual quick freezing tunnels that produce superior free-flowing frozen cherries with excellent color, texture, and flavor retention.
- Packaging: Automated weighing, bagging, clamshell filling, and sealing systems for retail, foodservice, or industrial packaging formats.
Bigtem Engineering Highlights:
- 53+ years of experience (est. 1973) with 35+ engineers focused on food processing equipment.
- Vertical integration for custom sanitary design, specialized gentle-handling conveyors, and full-line automation with user-friendly PLC/HMI controls.
- Food-grade AISI 304/316 stainless steel construction meeting strict USDA and FSMA requirements.
- Proven gentle-handling technology specifically optimized for delicate fruits like cherries.
- High Yield: Precision pitting and gentle handling minimize product loss and juice leakage, delivering excellent usable yield.
- Superior Quality: Rapid cooling and freezing preserve natural color, firmness, taste, and nutritional value.
- Labor Efficiency: Highly automated continuous flow significantly reduces manual labor requirements compared to traditional methods.
- Flexibility: The line can be configured to handle different cherry varieties and support both fresh market and frozen production on the same equipment.
- Food Safety & Compliance: Hygienic design and efficient cleaning systems support strict food safety standards.
- Strong ROI: Premium fresh and frozen cherry products, reduced waste, lower operating costs, and reliable performance provide fast payback on your investment.
Typical Applications: Fresh market cherries for retail, frozen whole cherries or pieces for foodservice and industry, cherry pie filling, dried cherries, and ingredients for yogurt, bakery products, ice cream, smoothies, and beverages.
We are your true process partner — providing complete fresh cherry line responsibility with seamless integration into your existing facility rather than supplying isolated machines.
Our experienced team understands the unique challenges of cherry processing, including delicate fruit handling, seasonal volume peaks, labor shortages, strict food safety regulations, and the need to produce both fresh and frozen products to maximize plant utilization and market opportunities.
Tell us your target capacity, desired product mix (fresh, frozen, pitted, etc.), current bottlenecks, packaging formats, and facility details. We will prepare a customized process layout, detailed utility requirements, and a competitive budgetary proposal — usually within 5 business days.
Request a Quote → Call: (414) 378-9956 | sales@vegtechsystems.com
