Covid-19 has slashed the available seasonal labor for specialty crops in the US, including wine grapes.

Many vineyards in California’s fertile wine country rely on seasonal foreign workers to tackle the harvest, but the relevant H-2A visa program faced uncertainty when the pandemic hit.

Although its toll on agriculture has been devastating, the dearth of H-2A workers has created a new opportunity for robotics startups targeting the specialty crop industry. As the labor supply becomes increasingly unpredictable, every second during the already stressful harvest season is even more valuable.

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Source: Startup Spotlight: How robotics startup Vinergy is making the grape harvest more efficient