Labour-efficient canopies

June 2016 | Presented by Marcel Veens | Future Orchards® presentation

This presentation looks at canopy design through the lens of labour productivity. The core principle is that trees should be straightforward to work in, with fruiting wood and fruit positioned where workers and equipment can reach them with minimal wasted movement.

Narrow, well-lit canopies improve access for pruning, thinning and harvest while also supporting fruit colour and quality. The presentation complements the AgFirst material from the same Winter 2016 orchard walks by showing how orchard architecture and labour systems need to be developed together.

For growers planning redevelopment, the resource is useful when comparing systems not only on establishment cost and yield potential, but also on the long-term labour required to maintain and harvest the canopy.