Pick goods in batches
The fruit of big cherry can grow 1 ~ 6 fruits per cluster of flowers, but these fruits are different in the morning and evening, and their maturity is inconsistent. In addition, due to the different position of the fruit on the tree, as well as the different types of fruit branches, the degree of light reception is also different, so the maturity is also different. Harvest should be carried out according to the characteristics and maturity of each variety and the needs of customers.
Generally speaking, the maturity of big cherry fruit is judged by its color, sweetness, different flavors of various varieties and fruit size. The expansion period and maturity period of big cherry are synchronous, and it is picked too early. Although the color meets the requirements, the fruit is still developing, and the fruit size can not meet the requirements, which will also affect the benefits. Or the size and color look ok, but the sugar content is not enough, and the taste is greatly reduced, which will also affect the sales price.
According to different sales channels, the delivery time is different. Big cherries are mainly used for fresh food, and the fruits sold locally must be harvested when they are fully mature and show the proper color, fragrance and taste of the variety. For export goods, because of the problem of transportation time, it is necessary to pick the fruit when it reaches about 80% maturity, which is 3 ~ 5 days ahead of local sales.
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Picking method
Because of the different ripening stages, the harvesting of big cherry is mainly carried out manually. Make preparations before picking, such as picking baskets and packing. Our local farmers usually use light and flexible plastic buckets to pick them, not too big, because the cherry skin is thin, and too big containers are easy to damage the cherries underneath, which will affect sales. Soft cloth should be used as a cushion in the picking basket, and rough trimming tools are easy to cut the soft skin of cherries, increasing the second fruit rate and reducing the benefit.
When picking, you should hold the fruit stalk in your hand, hold the base of the fruit stalk with your index finger and gently pick it off. For four or five fruits clustered together, but only 1 ~ 2 fruits are ripe, pinch them off with index finger and thumb, and be careful not to affect the normal growth of surrounding fruits.
The ripening period of cherry fruit is also the formation period of flower buds, so we should pay attention to the flower buds on the branches around the fruit when harvesting, and move lightly to avoid touching the fruiting branches and affecting the yield in the next year.
Pay attention to the harvest time. In our Jiaodong area, the ripening period of cherries is generally from late May to late June, because different varieties have different ripening times. This period of time is the late spring and early summer when the temperature is low in the morning and evening and high at noon. Because the fruits and stems of big cherries contain a lot of water and air, they are easy to rot and deteriorate at high temperature, so lower temperature can keep cherries for a longer time, so the picking time is usually in the morning before the temperature rises.
Lower temperature can make the sugar and water in cherry fruit not deteriorate for a long time, and the taste is better. Therefore, in addition to choosing a lower temperature, cherries can be pre-cooled in a cold storage environment of 1 ~ 6 degrees for 12 hours after picking, and then packaged and transported in cold chain when the core temperature of the fruit is the same as the ambient temperature, which can prolong the storage time of cherries.
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The picking of big cherries seems simple, but it is actually one of the important links related to the quality of cherries. The main indicators for consumers to choose to buy cherries are fruit size, color, sweetness, aroma and hardness, as well as appearance defects and breakage. Most of these factors are closely related to the picking time, mode and transportation and storage process, so the cherry picking process should not be taken lightly.