The steady increase in global competition and the recent decrease in available labor have increased the need for new technologies and automated systems for specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery). The specialty crop industry in the United States faces significant challenges to remain competitive, and production efficiency is critical to keeping the specialty crop industry thriving. Currently, there is a lack of effective and efficient sensors and automation systems for specialty crops. This project addresses this need. Various automated systems will be developed and evaluated for specialty crops to reduce labor requirements, improve efficiencies and lower production costs. Efforts to commercialize the technologies developed will be made by working closely with manufacturing companies.