Some unusual equipment is used to get the cherries to drop off the tree. The harvesting machine reaches out with an arm that grabs the tree while some angled panels also extend under the tree. The operator then activates the "arms" which then shake the beegees out of the tree. The high speed shaking causes the cherries to come loose and fall onto the angled panels,and then roll to the bottom of the panels. At the bottom of the angled panels is a conveyor belt which transports the cherries up to a container that has water. The water is used to cushion the cherries falling into the container. A worker stands at the container and uses a racquet ball racquet to fish out leaves and twiggs that also fall off the tree. When the container is full a tractor takes the full container away and places a new container in place. Hopefully the following pictures will tell the tale better than my description.
The harvest period for the farmers is a very busy time indeed. It involves many hours in the orchards from daylight to midnight on some days.I get tired just watching them.
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