Walk into any grocery store and you'll see cherry tomatoes packed in different ways. Gift boxes for special occasions. Small clamshells for everyday shoppers. Loose trays for food service. Bright red orbs on top of cakes and salads. Each pack requires a different sizeâand that means different grades.
One Fruit, Many Packs, Different Sizes
Cherry tomatoes are loved worldwide. Their small size, sweet flavor, and vibrant colors make them incredibly versatileâhome consumption, supermarket shelves, restaurant garnishes, even pastry decoration.
But here's what many packers don't realize: not every cherry tomato fits every pack.
A gift box needs uniform, medium-sized fruit with perfect appearance. A supermarket clamshell can accept a slightly wider size range, but still demands consistency. A food service tray might prefer smaller fruit for portion control. And cake decoration? Those tiny, perfect cherries are a grade of their own.
When all these fruits come from the same harvest, the grader's job is simple: separate them so each pack gets exactly what it needs.
What a Complete Cherry Tomato Line Does
The Fstsort cherry tomato processing line is a modular system that handles the entire journey from field to pack.
Stage | Equipment | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
1. Feeding | Hopper with elevator | Gently feeds fruit into the line at a controlled rate |
2. Washing | Bubble washing tank | Removes dirt and field debris |
3. Inspection | Roller inspection table | Manual quality checkâworkers spot damaged fruit |
4. Drying | Air dryers | Removes surface moisture before grading |
5. Grading | Roller size grader | Sorts by diameter with adjustable precision |
6. Packing | Box filling & weighing system | Automatically fills boxes to precise weight |
Each stage flows into the next. No waiting. No extra handling. No lost time.
The grading stage is where the real value is createdâseparating fruit into the size grades that match your packaging needs.
Grading That Fits Your PacksâNot the Other Way Around
Not all grading machines are the same. Some sort by weight. Some sort by color. The Fstsort cherry tomato grader sorts by diameterâbecause thatâs what pack sizes actually care about.
The machine uses adjustable rollers with gradually widening gaps. Smaller fruit falls through first. Medium fruit falls through next. Larger fruit continues to the end. Each size exits through a separate outlet, ready for its specific pack.
The grading ranges are fully adjustable. Want to change the size specs for a new customer? Adjust the rollers. Need to run a different variety? Adjust the speed. One machine adapts to your packaging requirementsânot the other way around.
What this means for your packs:
Feature | How It Helps Your Packing |
|---|---|
Adjustable diameter grading | Match size ranges to your specific pack requirementsâgift boxes, clamshells, or food service |
3â6 adjustable grades | Sort into multiple size gradesâone harvest serves multiple pack formats |
Variable speed control | Adjust to match your packing line pace and fruit condition |
Gentle handling | Smooth rollers protect delicate skinâno bruising, no damage |
The result: the right fruit goes to the right pack, every time.
One Machine That Handles Multiple Fruits
The Fstsort cherry tomato grader isnât limited to cherry tomatoes. It handles grape tomatoes, dates, kumquats, tamarillos, and other small round fruits of similar size and shape. For packers who process different crops throughout the year, this versatility means one machine, multiple seasons.
Fstsort has already delivered cherry tomato grading solutions to packers in Australia and other marketsâhelping them match fruit to pack, every time.
Learn more on our cherry tomato grading machine page â
The right pack starts with the right grade. The right grade starts with the right grader. One that adjusts to your sizes, protects your fruit, and keeps your line moving.