In this section:
Harvesting: Preparation
Prepare early for the harvesting period—once apricots are ripe and the rush is on, dried tree fruit producers really have their hands full. Below is a brief checklist of important jobs that can be carried out well in advance of the drying season.
- Prepare drying greens
- Repair and wash drying trays
- Buy, repair and clean picking containers
- Maintain harvest machines and/or equipment
- Set up the cutting shed
- Buy cutting knives
- Buy burning sulphur or bottled sulphur dioxide
- Maintain sulphur houses and tray carriers
- Set up cutting machine
- Obtain bins for dried fruit
New growers often experience difficulty determining the number of drying trays required. As a guide the number should be calculated on the assumption of filling the trays twice, hence about 450-500 trays per expected dried tonne. This allows sufficient trays to cope with season where drying conditions are slow.
It is essential to thoroughly wash any new trays purchased otherwise sawdust and wood chips will contaminate the dried product. One wash seldomly removes all wood chips.
Plan and arrange your labour requirements well in advance. Inability to cope with a rapidly ripening crop can cost you money, so estimate your labour requirements carefully. Should you need more labour than you can engage through family and friends and you need help from Government employment agencies or services, notify them of your requirements as soon as possible.
