A machine includes a frame, a conveyor with a plurality of open-top bottom-apertured recesses for receiving, conveying and dropping skin-containing berries. Upper and lower needle assemblies are supported on the frame above and below the conveyor. Each needle assembly includes a plurality of needles with five-star-knife-edged sharp tips and an actuator mechanism for oscillatingly moving the needles as the recesses pass the needles, the needles being movable between an extended position where the sharp tips penetrate opposing sides of the skin of the berries but with a stroke causing the tips to only penetrate partially into an interior of the berries causing star-shaped slit patterns. The actuator mechanism also moves the needles to a retracted position where the sharp tips are fully retracted. A related method is provided for piercing multiple sides of the skin of berries without unacceptably damaging the appearance or shape or internal mass of the berries.
