ABSTRACT
Peach production is characterized by relatively low levels of food loss at the farm level. Early management of peach crop load through pruning and blossom and fruit thinning before the harvest stage has a direct effect on final fruit size, which is one of the main determinants of whether a fruit is marketable. Peach trees often produce more fruit than the tree can support, resulting in fruit that is too small or branches that break under weight of the fruit. Pruning affects harvest labor, since lower tree heights enable harvesters to reach the fruit from the ground or with very short ladders. For large operations, peaches are packed on the farm the same day that they are picked and shipped to wholesalers. Demand for peaches as animal feed from livestock operations varies over time and depends on meat and feed prices. Trimming also guides the peach tree limb growth into a shape that makes hand picking easier, reducing labor costs.
