What tools are commonly used by hand-pickers during the olive harvest in Mallorca?

Hand-pickers in Mallorca commonly rely on a combination of traditional and practical tools during the olive harvest, aimed at efficiently gathering olives while minimizing damage to both the fruit and the trees. One of the primary implements is a handheld raking tool, often made of lightweight wood or plastic, with short, comb-like prongs. This tool enables pickers to gently dislodge the olives by combing through the branches, causing the ripe fruit to fall onto nets or tarps spread beneath the trees. These nets are crucial as they cushion the olives, preventing bruising and allowing for a cleaner collection.

In addition to rakes, hand-pickers frequently use small, scissors-like clippers designed to snip the olives and little stems, especially in areas where detaching the fruit requires more precision. This method is particularly useful for maintaining the quality of the olives intended for high-grade oil production. The harvesters also rely on ladders or small platforms to reach the higher branches safely, ensuring thorough coverage of the entire tree without causing harm. Furthermore, lightweight baskets or buckets are used to gather the picked olives before transferring them to larger collection containers.

Overall, the tools utilized by hand-pickers reflect a balance between efficiency and care. The approach respects both the olive trees and the fruit, preserving the integrity crucial for producing Mallorca’s distinctive olive oils. The harvesting process, supported by these selective manual tools, highlights a method that has been refined over generations, blending traditional techniques with practical innovations suitable for the island’s varied terrain and olive cultivars. This careful approach helps sustain the quality that Mallorca’s olives are renowned for among producers and consumers alike.