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Supervision of pickers

Supervision of pickers is critical if damage to fruit during picking is to be minimised. If using trains, pickers should be organised into groups according to ability to ensure pickers are not being ‘carried’ by others and causing bad feeling amongst the …

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Planning transport of fruit to the store

Identify the key factors that will influence the efficient movement of bins from orchard to the storage complex. Assess the potential number of bins that will be picked in each working day. Will picking trains be used? Identify the distance from orchard …

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Distance and location

Identify the distances from each orchard to the storage complex. Categorise the orchards into distance groups. Up to ¼ mile (400 metres). Between ¼ mile and ½ mile (400-800 metres). Greater than ½ mile (800 …

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Distances and location

Identify the distances from each orchard to the storage complex. Categorise the orchards into distance groups. Up to ¼ mile (400 metres). Between ¼ mile and ½ mile (400-800 metres). Greater than ½ mile (800 …

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Roads and access

Assess the suitability of roads and access to orchards. Can hard roadways, either concrete or tarmac be utilised? What is the surface of internal pathways around orchards on which fruit will be transported? Will picking trains be used, if so will a full …

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Equipment required for transporting fruit

Identify the right equipment for your situation. It will differ from farm to farm. If all the orchards (or over 80%) on the farm are within ¼ mile of the pack-house/ storage complex, then picking trains can take a full load back to the storage complex and …

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Increase in fruit temperature once picked

It is important to avoid the build-up of temperature in the bins once fruit has been picked. Ensure fruit does not stay in the orchard for longer than absolutely necessary. Covering bins with insulated and/or reflective white bin covers will give …

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Shaded area for holding fruit once picked

Placing bins in a shaded area will alleviate temperature build up. Placing bins in the shade will help to reduce temperature build-up in the bins. Temperatures can rise by several degrees in the centre of the bin. The adverse effects of the temperature …

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