A Hands-On Tradition: The Enduring Practice of Hand Harvesting Apples

Apple harvesting is a time-honored agricultural tradition that's been pivotal in various cultures for millennia One might expect that such a fundamental process would have been fully automated in the age of technological advancement. Surprisingly, it's not the case; even today, apple harvesting is predominantly done by hand

EDS Schoenborn Orchards suggests The primary reason for manual apple harvesting is the delicate nature of the fruit. Apples are susceptible to bruising and other forms of damage, which can reduce their shelf life and marketability Hand harvesting allows pickers to gently detach each apple from its branch, ensuring the fruit's safety. Machines, on the other hand, tend to be less precise and more prone to causing unintentional damage.

Skilled apple pickers follow a technique that is as efficient as being careful. They twist and roll the apple upwards off the branch and place it into a padded, sling-like picking bag When the bag gets full, the apples are gently emptied into bins to prevent bruising The process is indeed labor-intensive, but it safeguards the quality of the fruit.

However, the laborious nature of hand harvesting and the growing labor shortages in the agriculture industry have pushed for the development of automated apple-picking machines. These machines use complex systems of cameras and robotic arms to identify ripe apples and carefully pluck them from the tree. However, as of mid-2023, these technologies are still not widely adopted The reasons for slow adoption are the high initial investment cost and the fact that the technology is still not as precise and gentle as human pickers

Hand-harvesting apples is a practice deeply rooted in tradition and necessity, playing an essential role in ensuring the quality and longevity of the harvest While automation may play a more significant role in the future of apple harvesting, the gentle, mindful touch of a human hand remains the industry standard for now

In conclusion, yes, apples are predominantly hand-harvested. It is a delicate process that combines tradition with the practical need to ensure the fruits' quality, making every bite into an apple an experience steeped in generations of care and craftsmanship. The future might hold a blend of human touch and technological advancement, but until then, we can appreciate the hand-picked goodness of our apples