Join us on Sunday, October 5 from 10 AM - 12 PM for a hands-on experiential workshop on Fruit Harvesting, Handling and Storage in an organic orchard. Lunch will be provided! After lunch, there will be an opportunity to pick apples from 1-3 PM. Join for the morning workshop or stay for the whole day! The workshop will be led by Sundance Commons Farmer Member Danielle Marcos, who has worked as the orchard assistant at Amma Canada Farms for two years.
Fruit Harvesting, Handling and Storage: This half-day session is ideal for beginner to intermediate growers interested in growing cherries, peaches, pears or apples.
Key Concepts:
Identifying signs of ripeness in cherries, peaches, pears and apples
Trade-offs between fruit ripeness and crop loss to pests & windfall
Selecting varieties with different harvest times to extend your harvest window
Explore different picking tools (bags, buckets, harnesses, and poles): how to use them right, and the pros & cons of each
Fruit picking and handling technique: to minimize fruit damage, prolong fruit storage, and avoid injuring your body
Fruit storage strategies: from professional options (climate control) to more economical approaches for home growers and small producers
Storage considerations for different fruit types and varieties
Fruit sorting and grading for market (and what to do with seconds)
End-of-season sanitation: dealing with windfall fruit and diseased leaves in the orchard to reduce your pest load next season
Hands-On Practice:
Every participant will have the opportunity to harvest apples and sort them with personalized guidance and feedback from Danielle. This is a practical learning experience—come ready to work with your hands and ask questions!
Whether you’re tending a backyard tree or a small orchard, learn how to harvest and handle your fruit to maximize the quality and storage of your crop.
If you intend to come as a group, please fill out a form for each person.
If you intend to bring a child, children must be supervised at all times.
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More Information about the Site:
We are beyond thrilled to announce that we have an exciting new location and partnership!
Sundance Commons and Amma Canada have begun co-managing a lovely, organic orchard which includes apples, pears, and cherries.
Sundance Commons has been able to provide a paid apprenticeship to one of our farmer members while members of Amma Canada will offer guidance, training and leadership on the many aspects of orchard management - fertilizing, pest, and disease management and harvesting.
