MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 



CHAPTER 1 



FRUIT HARVESTING OPERATIONS 



Picking Operations. The gathering of fruit from 

 the trees is quite simple in theory yet exceedingly varied 

 in practice. Each section of the country has developed 

 different methods of handling the fruit, depending for 

 the most part upon the demands of the market in which 

 the fruit is sold. In some sections growers are exceed- 

 ingly careful and use painstaking care in picking and 

 preparing the fruit for market ; others are indifferent 

 or are poorly equipped to handle the fruit properly. 

 It not infrequently happens that sections having ideal 

 locations for orchards produce very poor or inferior 

 fruit. Such sections are either overshadowed by some 

 other industry or are lacking in men with intelligence 

 and enterprise to develop them. 



Time to Pick. The time at which the various fruits 

 should be picked will depend upon several factors, such 

 as: (1) The variety or kind of fruit. (2) Distance 

 from market. (3) Maturity of the fruit. (4) The use 

 to which it is to be put. Each variety or kind of fruit 

 is at its best for only a comparatively short time. Some 

 of the softer fruits, like peaches, plums, apricots or 

 berries, are in their prime only four or five days, while 

 apples, pears, etc., will often keep for months. The 

 efforts in all cases should be to have the fruit reach the 

 consumer while in its best prime condition. 



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