10 Technical

and Vocational Education

Quarter 4
Perform Harvesting Activity
Module 4 (Week 3 and 4)
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This module encourages you to be familiar with harvesting. Various activities are provided for
you to meet the target skills.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

• implement appropriate harvesting methods based on best cultural practices for each
crop using suitable tools;
• identify methods of harvesting
• identify and prepare appropriate harvesting tools and materials;
• perform the methods of harvesting crops; and
• develop Tender Loving Care (TLC) in harvesting

Directions: Read the following statements carefully and choose the letter of the
correct answer. Write the letter of your choice on a separate sheet.

1. The process of gathering or picking of harvestable parts of a plant

a. Harvesting b. Harvestable c. Harvesting tool
2. A bamboo basket used as a container of harvested fruits
a. Alawa b. Kaing c. Bamboo crate
3. Which of the following is NOT an objective in doing some preparations prior to harvesting?
a. Determine whether or not the crops are ready to harvest.
b. Find out if there are obstructions in harvesting.
c. Facilitate harvesting and minimize possible damages to crops at harvest time.
d. View the beauty of the field with harvestable crops.
4. Why is there a need to make use of appropriate tools and materials in harvesting?
a. To facilitate harvesting
b. To obtain quality harvest
c. To minimize damages to harvests
d. To enjoy harvesting
5. Which of the following tools is not appropriate for harvesting vegetable crops?
a. Bolo b. knife c. pruning shears
6. Which of the following may cause injury to the harvest?
a. Don’t pile the harvest too high because it may cause “heat up” that will cause damage
to the harvest.
b. Toss the harvested crops to the containers.
c. Practice TLC in harvesting.
d. Use appropriate tools and materials in harvesting.
7. Which of the following is not a characteristic of over maturity among vegetable crops?
a. fibrous
b. flat in taste
c. soggy in consistency and has fast internal breakdown during display or storage.
d. none of these
8. Harvesting at the right stage of maturity will __________.
a. ensures good quality of harvest
b. benefits the grower and consumer
c. increase marketability of fruits
d. all of the above
9. Which of the following tools is NOT used in harvesting vegetable crops?
a. axe b. knife c. pruning shears
10. The __________ of shipping fruits and vegetables is a factor in considering the time of
harvesting.
a. distance b. bulk c. precise

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write
your answer in your answer sheet.

___________ 1. Vegetables should be harvested at the right stage of maturity.

___________ 2. Fruits that are harvested at the delayed stage of maturity will
ensure good quality harvest.
___________ 3. Computation method refers to the number of days from planting to
harvesting or from the days of flowering to harvesting.
___________ 4. Commercial maturity is generally referred to as ripening.
___________ 5. Visual method includes the color, size and shape of crops.

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Directions: Using the words inside the box, loop these words from the puzzle. These
words have to do with lesson to be discussed in this module. Copy and
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Harvesting Pruning shears Timing

Maturity Harvest

Perform Harvesting Activity – Methods of Harvesting

Let us Define

Harvesting – the process of gathering or picking of harvestable parts of a plant

Vegetable Crops

Growing and harvesting vegetables are the primary responsibilities of farmers

who must necessarily be adept at this special phase of agriculture. After vegetables
reach harvest maturity, speedy operations are required by growers, handlers, marketing
specialists, wholesalers, and retailers to move their produce from the farm to the

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consumer.

Preparations prior to harvesting

In order to maintain good quality harvest, the following preparations before

harvesting should be made.

• Conduct an ocular inspection in your vegetable field to find out whether or

not the vegetables are ready to harvest. See if there are obstructions in the field that
may delay harvesting. If ever there are obstructions remove them to facilitate harvesting
and also minimize possible damages to the harvest.
• Prepare harvesting tools and materials. Remember that vegetables are
perishable and need not to be exposed to sunlight for a long time.
• In large scale, construct temporary shed where to house your harvest until
they are not transported to the market. Never leave your harvests in an open field.

Tools and materials used in harvesting

Different crops require different harvesting tools and materials. The use of appropriate
tools and materials in harvesting will facilitate harvesting and may help maintain good
quality of harvests.

The following tools could be used in harvesting vegetable crops:

• Scissors
• Pruning shears
• Knives

Various considerations in harvesting vegetables

1. Harvest the crop at the proper time of the day. The time of the day when the
vegetables are harvested affects the quality of the product. For example, sweet
corn should be harvested early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
Harvesting after 9:00 AM decreases the sweetness because the sugar content is
converted to starch.
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 For fruit vegetables, harvesting between 9:00AM and 3:00PM is advisable.
Harvesting the fruits earlier or later in the day causes blemishes which are not
observable at harvest but show a day or more after harvest. This is because the
peel is turgid and the pressure made on the fruit from pulling the fruit out cause
the blemishes.

2. Harvest vegetables at proper maturity. The most common cause of poor

quality of harvest is harvesting too early or too late. Produce should be harvested
at the proper stage of maturity considering again the purpose and the desire of
the consumer.
Over maturity will take the vegetable soggy in consistency, fibrous and flat
in taste. It also makes the vegetable subject to fast internal breakdown during
display or storage.
Some vegetables like cucumber, sweet corn, peas, snap beans and
asparagus represent other vegetables which pass their best edible stage quickly.
Thus, they should be harvested daily or every other day.

3. Harvested vegetables should not be allowed in the sun for a long period of
time. Sun exposure can cause injury, especially to leafy vegetables. Sun
exposure enhances high transpiration in products resulting to wilting.
When harvesting tomatoes and pepper, it is advisable to put them in the
shade and should not be allowed under the blazing sun to avoid a disorder
known as sunscald.

4. Preventing injury during harvest. During harvesting, care should be followed

to avoid inflicting injuries to produce. Bruising or crushing impairs vegetable
quality and leads to disease infection. Jostling the tubers during harvesting
cause unsightly flapping of the skin (called feathers) in potato. Pick commodity
gently and should be laid down on the container carefully, not tossed. The filled
container must not be thrown or walked on.
Deep piling can cause crushing of the bottom layers. It can also cause
“heat up” because the heat of respiration cannot escape from the center and
bottom of the pile of vegetables.

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 Suitable tools and equipment (including containers) should be on hand.
Thus, there is no substitute for adequate planning, preparation, and organization.
Each of the personnel should know his job. Impress in them the need for careful
handling of the vegetables.

Fruit- Bearing Crops

Time to Harvest

There is a correct time for harvesting any kind of crop. Delayed

harvesting is as bad as premature harvesting. Both may be favorable to the grower
but always unfavorable to the consumers.

Factors to Consider in Harvesting Fruit-bearing Crops

1. Distance. When fruits like mango, avocado, papaya or chico are to be

transported and marketed at a considerable distance, they should be
harvested ahead of the ripening time. Otherwise, they may be rotten along the
way.
2. Purpose. Fruits intended to be eaten green should be harvested while still young
or before the ripening stage, but when intended for seed purposes, harvesting
could be delayed.
3. Characteristics of the fruit crops, although mature, appear green during the
rainy season and may not show change in color, Therefore, the farmer should
be guided by this natural behavior of the plants in deciding the time of harvest.

Methods of Harvesting Fruits

The harvesting of fruits has not so far been mechanized, not like other
crops such as rice, sugarcane, corn and others. Fruits of fruit- bearing crops are
harvested using the hand-picking method.

Harvesting of fruits should be done with utmost care. Fruits should not be
dropped to the ground to avoid damages. They should be picked by hand with the
use of the following materials:

1. picking pole with either a bag or basket at the end

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 2. a pole with a net and a hook at the end called “alawa” by Pangasinenses
3. bamboo basket called “kaing” tied to a rope. This harvesting device is brought
by the climber on the tree to place the fruits he picks.
With the help of the rope the loaded basket is laid on the ground.
4. boxes and crates with liners
5. ladder

Let Us Remember

Proper timing and promptness are important factors in harvesting farm

vegetables and field crops, especially the perishable ones.
Vegetables should be harvested at the right stage of maturity. However, some
crops can be harvested at any stage after the edible part has reached a reasonable
size and is ready for the kitchen. In other words, harvesting of vegetable crops is
dependent upon the demand of the consumers.
Hand picking of fruits should be done with utmost care using the appropriate
materials for harvesting to avoid bruises and damages on fruits.
In harvesting vegetables and fruits of any kind, the following factors should be
considered, namely:
• the prevailing market prices
• the distance to the market and
• the length of time they are kept prior to possible consumption

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Independent Activity 1

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct word(s) to complete each sentence.
Choose from the words inside the box. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

time shed harvested

ocular injury

1. Conduct an _____________ inspection in your vegetable field to find out

whether or not the vegetables are ready to harvest.
2. In large scale, construct temporary ___________where to house your
harvest until they are not transported to the market.
3. Harvest the crop at the proper ____________ of the day.
4. ___________ vegetables should not be allowed in the sun for a long period
of time
5. Preventing __________ during harvest.

Independent Assessment 1

Directions: Enumerate what is asked in each number. Write your answer on a

separate sheet of paper.

1. Various Considerations in
Harvesting Vegetables

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 2. Factors to Consider in Harvesting
Fruit-Bearing Crops

3. Tools Used in Harvesting

Vegetables

Tools Used in Harvesting Fruit-

Bearing Crops

Independent Activity 2

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write
your answer in your answer sheet.

___________ 1. Proper timing and promptness are important factors in harvesting

farm vegetables and field crops, especially the perishable ones.
___________ 2. Sun exposure can cause injury, especially to leafy vegetables.
___________ 3. Harvesting of fruits should not be delayed if the intention of the
harvest is for seed purposes.
___________ 4. The distance of shipping fruits is a factor in considering the time of
harvesting.

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___________ 5. For sweet corn, harvesting between 9:00AM and 3:00PM is
advisable.

Independent Assessment 2

Directions: Identify the following sentences. Write you answer on a separate

sheet of paper.

__________ 1. The process of gathering or picking of harvestable parts of a plant.

__________ 2. A pole with a net and a hook at the end used in harvesting.
__________ 3. A disease caused by over exposure to sunlight of tomatoes and
pepper.
__________ 4. A bamboo basket used as a container of harvested fruits.
__________ 5. Fruits of fruit- bearing crops are harvested using the ____________
method.

Independent Activity 3

Directions: Identify the following crops based on factors of their harvesting.

Choose from the words inside the box. Write your answer on your
answer sheet

Fruit vegetables Papaya, mango, chico Sweet corn

Cucumber, peas, snap beans Tomato, bell pepper

__________ 1. Harvesting between 9:00AM and 3:00PM is advisable.

__________ 2. They should be harvested daily or every other day.
__________ 3. It is advisable to put them in the shade and should not be allowed
under the blazing sun to avoid a disorder known as sunscald.
__________ 4. Should be harvested early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
__________ 5. Should be transported and marketed at a considerable distance,
they should be harvested ahead of the ripening time.

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Independent Assessment 3

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct word or group of words to complete
the thought of the sentence: Write your answers in your answer sheet.

1._____________and promptness are important factors in harvesting farm

vegetables and field crops, especially the perishable ones.
Vegetables should be harvested at the right stage of 2. _____________
However, some crops can be 3. ____________at any stage after the edible part
has reached a reasonable size and is ready for the kitchen. In other words,
harvesting of vegetable crops is dependent upon the 4. ___________of the
consumers.
5. _____________ of fruits should be done with utmost care using the
appropriate materials for harvesting to avoid bruises and damages on fruits.

I have learned that right timing of harvesting is very important because

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_______

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Essay: Answer the question briefly. Answer it in 2-3 sentences.

Why do you need to practice Tender Loving Care (TLC) in harvesting fruits
and vegetables? Write your answer on your answer sheet

Directions: Read the following statements carefully and choose the letter of the
correct answer. Write the letter of your choice on your answer sheet.

1. The process of gathering or picking of harvestable parts of a plant

a. Harvesting b. Harvestable c. Harvesting tool
2. A bamboo basket used as a container of harvested fruits
a. Alawa b. Kaing c. Bamboo crate
3. Which of the following is NOT an objective in doing some preparations prior to
harvesting?
a. Determine whether or not the crops are ready to harvest.
b. Find out if there are obstructions in harvesting.
c. Facilitate harvesting and minimize possible damages to crops at harvest
time.
d. View the beauty of the field with harvestable crops.
4. Why is there a need to make use of appropriate tools and materials in harvesting?
a. To facilitate harvesting

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Directions: Copy and paste at least five pictures of farmers performing harvesting
of fruit and vegetables in a short bond paper. Tell something about each picture.
Write caption for each picture.

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What I Know Independent Activity 2
1. A 6. B 1. True
2. B 7. D 2. True
3. D 8. D 3. False
4. D 9. A 4. True
5. A 10. A 5. False
What’s In Independent Assessment 2
1. True 1. Harvesting
2. False 2. Alawa
3. False 3. Sunscald
4. False 4. Kaing
5. True 5. Hand picking
What’s New Independent Activity 3
1. Harvesting 1. Fruit vegetables
2. Pruning shears 2. Cucumber, peas, snap beans
3. Timing 3. Tomato, bell pepper
4. Maturity 4. Sweet corn
5. Harvest 5. Papaya, mango, chico
What’s More Independent Assessment 3
Independent Activity 1 1. Timing
1. Ocular 2. Maturity
2. Shed 3. Harvested
3. Time 4. Demand
4. Harvested 5. Hand picking
Independent Assessment 1
1. Harvest the crop at the proper time of the day
Harvest vegetables at proper maturity
Harvested vegetables should not be allowed in the sun for a long period of
time
Preventing injury during harvest
2. Distance What I Have Learned
Purpose Answers may vary
Characteristics of fruit crop What I Can Do
3. Scissors Answers may vary
Pruning shears Assessment
Knives 1. A 6. B
4. Picking pole 2. B 7. D
Alawa 3. D 8. D
Kaing 4. D 9. A
Boxes and crates 5. A 10. A
Ladder Additional Activity
Answers may vary
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education, Schools Division of Bulacan

Curriculum Implementation Division
Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol Compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan

Email Address: lrmdsbulacan@deped.gov.ph