The transition from rollers to the picking table should be smooth. The boom should be fully loaded like the side elevator, so that the roll back of tubers is minimized. The speed of the boom should be slightly less than the side elevator. Controlling boom height is a problem for harvester operators. Maintaining a low drop without damaging previously loaded potatoes is difficult, even with boom guards.
Automatic controls are available which maintains the boom height at a constant height over the pile.
A 30 minute video titled Potato Harvester Modifications illustrates the modifications that can be carried out to prevent bruising. This video is available through the Keystone Vegetable Producers' Association. Bruise Tests Blackspot and shatter bruises can be detected more quickly using various testing procedures. Heat or hot water may be used to hasten the development of bruise symptoms, but chemical tests detect injured tissue before bruise symptoms develop. These tests may be useful for determining where bruising injuries occur during the harvest operation or whether modifications in harvesting or handling procedures have reduced bruising.