Ensure pickers and supervisors have been trained. Where possible this should be done in advance of the first day of picking.
- Organise training courses for supervisors with a qualified instructor. The greatest influence on reduction of bruising will be gained by effective supervision.
- Organise training courses for pickers. Where possible this should be done in advance of the day of picking. Ideally gather the pickers together for a 2-hour training session. It is important that pickers understand where the apples they are picking will end up and a simple process flow example of the passage of fruit from the orchard to the supermarket shelf will help to indicate the importance of their actions.
- Where picking trains are used, ensure that pickers and supervisors are adequately trained and understand the system to be used
Key factors in the training course are:
- Health and safety.
- Hygiene.
- Proper use of the picking bucket.
- What to pick.
- Simple instruction on size evaluation.
- Correct methods of picking – how to handle fruit without bruising it.
- Correct approach to picking branches and trees.
- Correct procedure for emptying the bucket into the bin without causing damage to the fruit.
- Correct use of ladders or steps (where necessary).
- Team work if using picking trains.