Harvest & Post-Harvest
Harvest Handling & Sanitation
Harvest creates many opportunities for physical damage and microbial contamination, so clean tools, clean surfaces, gentle handling, and separation of suspect material matter.
Key concepts
- Freshly cut tissue remains biologically active
- Dirty tools and bins can transfer contaminants
- Compression and bruising damage flowers
- Moldy material should be separated rather than mixed into healthy product
What to measure or observe
- Inspect harvest tools and contact surfaces
- Check flowers for visible mold before combining lots
- Record harvest lots and locations
- Limit unnecessary handling
Common mistakes
- Using harvest bins that are difficult to clean
- Stacking fresh flowers deeply enough to compress or heat
- Combining suspect flowers with clean material
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Clean harvest workflow
- Tool and bin sanitation sequence
- Lot-separation diagram
- Gentle handling comparison