v) Harvesting containers: Plastic crates are relatively expensive to purchase, but are reusable and easy to clean. These have required features like stacking strength, ventilation holes and long life. These can be used for harvest, storage, cooling, transport and even for display in retail markets. Various brands and styles are manufactured, but all can be stacked securely if they are not over-filled. Picking baskets, bags and buckets can easily be carried and filled by workers. Harvesting containers can be made by fitting fabric over opened bottom of ready-made baskets, fitting ready made canvas bags. All of these will reduce mechanical damage to produce.
Harvesting: Once the quality crop is produced, it should be harvested with great care for marketing as shown in Plate 4. The goals of harvesting systems are:
a) To gather the commodity from the field at proper stage of maturity.
b) With a minimum amount of damage and losses.
c) In a cost effective way.
Method of Harvesting: Harvesting of crops can be done manually or mechanically. i) Hand Harvesting: Usually done for fruits destined for fresh markets.
Primary Advantages
• Harvesting of fruit or vegetable can be done at appropriate maturity.
• The produce will suffer minimum damage.
Disadvantages
• It is a time consuming process.
• More labour is required during harvesting season