Orchard manager Rod (left) said it's time to take the fruit. Just like that. We hitched a ride down to the cherry processing facility on Finley Point. There, the bins are off-loaded, graded for size, and then washed in ice cold water.
Temperatures matter. The crew picks first thing in the morning because the fruit gets juicy and soft in the sun. The ice water wash cools them down and then they're stored in a reefer truck until they go to the grocery store.
It happens fast. Our crew arrived at 5:00 this morning, and all of our 8000-odd pounds of fruit will be washed, sorted, and refrigerated before lunch.
Temperatures matter. The crew picks first thing in the morning because the fruit gets juicy and soft in the sun. The ice water wash cools them down and then they're stored in a reefer truck until they go to the grocery store.
It happens fast. Our crew arrived at 5:00 this morning, and all of our 8000-odd pounds of fruit will be washed, sorted, and refrigerated before lunch.
Fascinating! It's amazing to me that I paid only $2.99 a pound for cherries last week when so much work goes into bringing them to my table.
Posted by: Kalilah | August 29, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Well, we don't make much money from the orchard - last year after expenses it was less than $500. So nothing to be jealous of - we're still keeping our day jobs!
Posted by: Heidi | August 03, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Hey, that's really cool. Just like the show on the science channel "How It's Made". Very cool. Oh yeah, LOVE farmer Mike in his hat.
Posted by: teent | August 03, 2008 at 02:58 PM
You guys have a cherry farm?
Posted by: Shalondra | August 03, 2008 at 10:55 AM
wow,
Wish I had those cherries. Quite an operation.
Posted by: sheri | August 02, 2008 at 08:58 PM