16 MASS. EXPP:RIAiENT STATION' BULLF.TIX .W) 



Picking at the hard ripe stage is absolutely necessary if the fruit is to be run 

 orcr a sizing machine. In order to get all of the fruit at the proper stage of ma- 

 turity, it is often necessary to make more than one picking, the number depending 

 on the variety, the season, and the size of the crop. 



The stage of maturity at which to pick should be determined by the orchard 

 manager, because pickers should never be allowed to press or squeeze the fruit. 

 A good manager can tell by the eye when the fruit is ready to pick. In white- 

 fleshed peaches the ground color changes from green to gfeenish-white to white. 

 In yellow-fleshed peaches the change is from green to greenish-yellow to yellow 

 or orange-yellow. 



The picking container most commonly used is the 16-quart peach basket. It 

 is slung over the shoulder by means of a strap or sling made especially for the 

 purpose. 



Careful grading is one of the most important operations in the successful mar- 

 keting of peaches. Nothing builds up a grower's reputation and sells his fruit 

 more readily than a uniformly high quality pack. Most growers grade their 

 fruit to some extent. Some merely throw out culls and small fruit, while others 

 grade more carefulh- to get uniformity of size and quality. This grading is 

 usually done by hand on sorting tables in a shed or packing house. 



Since peaches soften \ery rapidly even at moderate temperatures, it is desir- 

 able to handle the fruit as rapidly as is consistent with careful handling, and to 

 get it into a coot cellar or storage house as soon after picking as possible. This 

 speed in handling is very necessar\- where peaches are to be shipped to distant 

 markets. 



The successful marketing of peaches depends on having fruit of high quality 

 (preferably yellow fleshed), putting up a uniformly good pack, and exhibiting it 

 in an attractive manner. Because of the availability of good local markets and 

 the relatively small size of the peach industry in Massachusetts, very few peaches 

 are shipped out of the State. Most of the crop is sold at roadside stands or in 

 local markets. A few of the larger growers sell part of their crop through commis- 

 sion men in the large markets such as Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. 



Most of the crop is marketed in 16-quart peach baskets, although some of the 

 high quality fruit, especially where sold at roadside stands, is marketed in 4-quart 

 till baskets. 



From the standpoint of both the handling and marketing of the crop, it is 

 highly desirable to have several carefully selected varieties to insure a continuous 

 supply of fruit throughout the sea.son. This is especially true for the roadside 

 stand, for nothing pleases a customer more than to be able to get high quality 

 fruit, whenever wanted, throughout the season. 



