How to Harvest Grapes in the Fall

Handpicking

• 1

  Grapes can be picked by hand. The harvester uses sharp shears or a knife to remove the clusters of grapes from the vine. The shears should be well-oiled and should fit the picker's hand proportionately to avoid unnecessary strain. Pull the cluster away from the vine and with the other hand, clip it off with the shears, leaving a bit of stem to pick up the cluster. The harvested grapes should be stored either in a flat wooden crate or in perforated plastic bags.

• 2

  Grapes that are grown specifically for making juice are sometimes harvested mechanically. These machines have arms that pivot horizontally to dislodge the grapes or use vibrating fingers to remove the grapes from the clusters. The grape clusters drop onto a conveyer belt that moves them along to a nearby tractor bearing a large crate. While mechanical harvesters can be useful, they are not as efficient as the hand harvester if the vineyard is on a steep slope.

• 3

  Once grapes are harvested, either by hand or machine, they should be kept out of direct sunlight if at all possible. Fresh grapes that are packed in perforated plastic bags will keep fresh for up to two months in a refrigerator.