-3 - 



Better Apple Picker", whtcl) was prepared by the Pomology Staff, University of 

 Massachusetts. They are sliown and then practice proper picking technique, place- 

 ment of apples in the picking container, emptying the apples from the picking 

 buckets to field crates, and placement of ladders. If the fruit arc being spot- 

 picked, the pickers are shown the color requirement. During this instruction 

 period, the grower has two men fill the same box to show them how to close the 

 bottom of the picking bucket when the orchard box is full but some apples still 

 remain in the picking container. This fulfills two purposes: (a) it shows the 

 picker how full to fill the field crate; and (b) how to close the picking bucket 

 without spilling apples. This grower strives to keep hand leveling of the field 

 crates to a minimum which saves time and avoids spillage of fruit. 



Each man's name and assigned number is placed on the Crew Time Sheet and 

 Efficiency Report, a sample of which is shown below. 



Crew Time Sheet and Efficiency Report 



Circle when: 



1. Average Bruise 21+ 



2. Average Bushel 5- 



Foreman_ 

 Date 



Names 



No. 



In 



Lunch 



Out 



Bruise 

 A.M. 



Bruise 



P.M. 



Avg. 

 Bruise 



Bushels 

 A.M. 



Bushels 

 P.M. 



Total 

 Bushels 



Avg/Hr 



I I 

 1 _l. 

 I I 



I 



± 

 I 



I 



1 

 I 



I 



± 

 I 



I 



± 



I 



I 



A. 

 I 



I 



I 



I 



The report is explained and the men informed that the bruises will be 

 counted. A box from each picker is examined twice daily. The pickers are told 

 that they will be fired for counts of 30 to 40 bruises per box. The maximum of 

 10 bruises per box is the goal. This is counting all bruises on the apples. 



The men are told that a minimum of 5 bushels per hour is expected unless the 

 picking is poor or they are "topping" trees. 



Training and Duties of Foremen 



The foremen help harvest the few early apples and haul boxes to the orchard. 

 They are given a training program by the grower making use of Special Circular 

 No. 245 titled "Harvesting Suggestions for Orchard Foremen", which was prepared 

 by the Pomology Staff of the University of Massachusetts. A few items are added 

 to the suggestions: (1) all drops are to be picked up prior to and after picking; 

 (2) instruct pickers to throw all trash into empty boxes; (3) show pickers how 

 full to fill boxes; (4) place field crates under trees for pickers; (5) foremen 

 are to level if time permits; (6) foremen are responsible for supplying cups and 

 water for pickers; and (7) foremen are responsible for distribution and return of 

 all harvest equipment - buckets, leveling sticks, ladders, water buckets, picker 

 tapes, etc. 



Each foreman has a basket in which are kept his instructions, a clip board 

 with the daily time sheet having the pickers' names and numbers, extra leveling 



