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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