HDC publishes top-fruit training guides

Horticultural Development Council (HDC) has launched two new DVDs and an accompanying handbook aimed at assisting the tree-fruit sector with this season’s harvest.

The two DVDs are titled Operators Guide to top fruit store management and Harvesting quality apples and pears.

• The operators guide and handbook covers an essential part of the production and marketing process for the tree-fruit sector. “These publications are tools to provide new and experienced staff with a clear understanding of what to do through the year to maximise fruit quality and maintain that during storage,” said an HDC statement.

• The harvesting DVD was first published in 2004 and proved popular in the training of seasonal labour, according to HDC. It has now been translated at the behest of the sector into Bulgarian, Czech, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian.

“…it is timely for HDC to be delivering these two helpful training tools to aid growers,” said communications manager Andrew Tinsley. “The DVD format and language translations are both aimed at providing growers with a flexible format - something HDC is looking to expand upon in its delivery to growers.”