How to Pick Blueberries Fast
February 21, 2013
Our first job in New Zealand was blueberry picking. It's considered the least physically demanding fruit picking job compared to other fruits mainly because blueberries are lighter than other fruits such as apples and kiwis. The method of payment at Mamaku Blue is by contract or a unit rate per kilo. The goal is to pick as fast and as much as possible before the end of the day. Picking is a no-brainer job but picking fast require some hand techniques, planning sequence and organization of movements to maximize efficiency.
1) Don't pick with someone you know. Pick with somebody you don't know and make a new friend.
2) Have heavy breakfast and lunch. If you're hungry you'll slow down. Leave your empty ice cream containers or something under the tree to mark where you stopped before you go for lunch.
3) Pick with two hands. Use both right and left fingers to gently rub the berries off the sticks.
4) After you finish one ice cream container just put it down (make sure you leave your name tag in it!) under the shade (sun burnt berries taste soggy) and move on until you fill up all your ice cream containers. If you can't find a shady spot, use an empty tray to cover it.
5) Do the bottom first, the outer ones next, the ones underneath and get the high ones last. This is to avoid brushing too many berries off the tree when you move around or in between trees.
6) Check the ground for any berries you have dropped and the top of the tree for any ones that you may have missed out after you finish a tree. Every berry counts.
7) Move your body and ice cream container as close to the tree as possible to catch your berries.
8) If you have accidentally picked reds, greens, sticks or leaves just leave them in the box.
9) Don't over fill your tray or your berries will get crushed when stacked on top of one another at the end of the day.
I picked 20kg on my first day and I was the last. Top pickers fare in the range of 50-60kg in a day. After learning and applying the above techniques taught by Harry, I managed to hit 41kg, the most I have ever picked so far!
1) Don't pick with someone you know. Pick with somebody you don't know and make a new friend.
2) Have heavy breakfast and lunch. If you're hungry you'll slow down. Leave your empty ice cream containers or something under the tree to mark where you stopped before you go for lunch.
3) Pick with two hands. Use both right and left fingers to gently rub the berries off the sticks.
4) After you finish one ice cream container just put it down (make sure you leave your name tag in it!) under the shade (sun burnt berries taste soggy) and move on until you fill up all your ice cream containers. If you can't find a shady spot, use an empty tray to cover it.
5) Do the bottom first, the outer ones next, the ones underneath and get the high ones last. This is to avoid brushing too many berries off the tree when you move around or in between trees.
6) Check the ground for any berries you have dropped and the top of the tree for any ones that you may have missed out after you finish a tree. Every berry counts.
7) Move your body and ice cream container as close to the tree as possible to catch your berries.
8) If you have accidentally picked reds, greens, sticks or leaves just leave them in the box.
9) Don't over fill your tray or your berries will get crushed when stacked on top of one another at the end of the day.
I picked 20kg on my first day and I was the last. Top pickers fare in the range of 50-60kg in a day. After learning and applying the above techniques taught by Harry, I managed to hit 41kg, the most I have ever picked so far!
Happy picking!
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