Harvest 2026 in Full Swing — Thousands of Tons of Fruits and Vegetables are Harvested Every Hour

Currently, over 1 billion people are working in the agricultural sector worldwide. A massive workforce behind production figures reaching hundreds of millions of tons per year. How did they manage to do that? Let's explore together in this video. You've surely seen many videos of harvesting marshmallows directly from trees. However, this is just an April Fool's joke. In reality, the part used to produce marshmallows is the root of the plant. Every year, only in Germany, more than 3,500 tons of marshmallow roots are harvested. To avoid damaging the valuable roots, a circle is dug 15 to 30 centimeters from the base of the plant. Each operation must be careful yet decisive in order to lift the entire root system intact. These roots are then cleaned, processed, and can be used in the production of marshmallow candies. At first glance, harvesting these flowers seems much gentler than digging into the earth. However, in the Yakima Valley, Washington, it is one of the most exhausting jobs. Each season, workers need to climb tall ladders, carrying a bag strapped to their chest, harvesting flowers continuously from cherry, peach, apple, and pear orchards. The bag on the chest gradually fills up, making each movement slower. On average, it takes about an hour and a half to fill a basket of flowers. Only about 30% of the flowers in each bunch are selected. The pollen extracted from them is used for pollination in regions with a shortage of bees. It also serves as an ingredient in cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps. The next location is a leek field in France. For the 2025 to 2026 season, the country is expected to produce over 161,800 tons of leeks. What is noteworthy is that most of this is harvested by machines. This machine is equipped with a rubber belt system that firmly holds the leaves to keep the plant stable. while a vibrating blade beneath gently separates the roots from the soil. Subsequently, the vibrating component continues to operate, shaking off the sand and soil adhering to the roots. The garlic presses move via an automatic system of disks with blades, where the excess roots and leaves are trimmed almost perfectly uniformly. Finally, the leeks are transferred to a work station directly on the machine, where workers perform the final quality check and arrange them in trays. Under the intense sun of the tropical fields, harvesting pineapples is no job for the impatient. Each step must be taken carefully, as there are long, sharp leaves around. The pineapples with spiky skins are in our hands. Farmers need to bend down and select only the fruit at the exact point of ripeness. and separate it decisively from the plant. Each pineapple is placed into a basket carried on the back, while they continue to move through the dense rows under the strong sun. This work requires both meticulous attention to detail and great endurance. Thus, each pineapple is harvested manually, contributing to the projected global production of reaching 32.2 million tons by 2026. Unlike pineapples, the harvesting of apples for cider has already been mechanized. Machines with mechanical arms are attached to the trunk of the tree He shook it vigorously for a few seconds. A large quantity of ripe apples falls to the ground simultaneously. in a quick, decisive, and almost surplus-free manner. Then, the harvester moves forward. She moves along the rows of trees, with a front-mounted scanning and collection mechanism that gathers all the apples on the ground. These fruits are then transported by a conveyor belt, where leaves, branches, and impurities are removed before the clean apples are transferred to large boxes. Thanks to this process, large apple orchards can produce up to 4.8 million tons of raw material per year for the global apple cider production industry. Today, broccoli fields are also no longer harvested manually. In the field, the machine's cutting blade runs flush with the base. Cutting the entire broccoli plant quickly and uniformly. Next, the entire product is transferred onto a conveyor belt to remove excess leaves. The flow of broccoli continues to a conveyor belt system It is directly discharged into the attached collection vehicle. Throughout the entire process, workers carefully monitor, ensuring that each plant meets the standards before leaving the field. This is how the sector operates to achieve a projected market value of nearly 14.7 billion U.S. dollars by 2035. In the vast fields of Guma Province, Japan, where annual cabbage production reaches 271,700 tons, Harvesting today is carried out by machines. As soon as the machine enters the row, the front cutting blade instantly cuts the cabbage stalk close to the ground. Almost at the same time, the conveyor system grips the stalk and lifts the entire plant up, feeding it directly into the machine. As the leaves pass through the rotating rollers, the older outer leaves are removed and pushed back into the field. Then, the cabbages are transferred to a sorting table, where workers inspect the quality and place them into containers. The entire process occurs continuously, enabling the handling of large volumes in a short time while maintaining uniform quality. Not every type of fruit can be harvested by machine. With melons, each fruit must be harvested by hand, but this does not mean the process is slow. After selecting a ripe melon, the farmer places it directly onto a conveyor system that travels across the field. In this aisle, another group is already waiting. They quickly inspect the quality of each melon and carefully arrange them in boxes. The process occurs continuously, almost without pause. Thanks to this method, global melon production reached approximately 36.5 million tons in 2025. Sweet potato harvesting in many regions is still done manually. The harvesters bend down, dig, and collect each tuber, placing it into a basket. When the basket is full, they stand up, carry it until they unload it into a container truck, and then return to start again. This cycle repeats for many hours, regardless of sunshine or rain. Most of this work is carried out by immigrant labor. It does not require complex skills, but demands great physical endurance and persistence. If they work diligently, they can earn about 200 dollars a day. The next product is grapes. As 29.44 million tons of grapes in the 2024 to 2025 harvest are produced by two main harvesting methods. For table grapes, farmers walk between the trellis rows, using sharp shears to carefully cut each bunch. Each piece is carefully placed into bags, preserving its most attractive shape before reaching merchants or supermarkets. Here, perfection is more important than speed. For grapes destined for wine, however, it is the opposite. Shaking machines traverse the vineyard, vigorously shaking each vine so that the grapes fall quickly. There is no need to keep the curls intact. The important thing is to harvest as quickly and uniformly as possible. In just one morning, entire containers can be filled with grapes. Global blueberry production is approaching the mark of over 2 million tons by 2026. To reach this number, producers must balance speed and accuracy. On small farms, harvesting remains entirely manual. The pickers bend down near the low bushes, gently harvesting each ripe berry. Since each fruit is only as big as the tip of a finger, every movement must be slow and precise. Meanwhile, on a large scale, shaking machines begin to replace human labor. As machines move down the rows, vibrating enough to cause the ripe berries to fall into the collection trays below. The blueberries are then transported by conveyor belt and dumped directly into containers mounted on the machine. A machine like this can harvest approximately 590 kilograms of blueberries per hour. Next, we will get to know a culture that has been intertwined with human history for more than 7,000 years. Cotton. Today, harvesting is almost entirely entrusted to machines. As the machine moves, the front section with continuously rotating metal spindles wraps around the cotton fibers and cleanly pulls them from the plant. It can process up to six rows of cotton simultaneously. The cotton fibers are then directly fed into a container on board. But the process does not stop there. The compact machine's modular system bales the cotton immediately on site into large bales. In a single operation, the cotton is not only harvested but also completely baled and ready for transport. The next location is a pumpkin field in Illinois. This region supplies 85% of the pumpkin production for all the United States. Here, harvesting requires harmonious coordination. Farmers use scissors to cut the stem of each pumpkin and carefully lift it to avoid scratching the thick outer rind. However, the real challenge lies in the weight. Pumpkins are much heavier than many other vegetables, with each fruit weighing an average of 4.5 to 6.8 kilograms. The farmers pass the pumpkins from hand to hand to load them onto the truck. There is no automated line nor complex machinery—only human strength and coordination. If you are in the middle of an almond orchard during harvest season, you'll see a shower of nuts falling. As global demand is approaching approximately 4 million tons by 2026, farmers have no other choice but to use machinery. Large mechanical arms clamp onto the trunk and shake it vigorously for several seconds. Immediately, the ripe almonds fall to the ground in large quantities. These nuts are left on the ground for a few days to dry naturally. Then, a street sweeper passes by, gathering them into neat rows. Finally, a specialized suction machine collects all the almonds and transfers them to the storage compartment. completing a fast, efficient, and extremely effective harvesting process. There are still places where harvests depend mainly on manual labor. And the tangerine in India is a clear example. As the world's second-largest tangerine producer, with a production of approximately 6.18 million tons, Everything in the orchards still follows a very traditional method. The farmers move among the dense crowns of the trees, Using your hands or small scissors to cut each ripe tangerine. Each fruit must retain its stem and skin without scratches, Even a small scratch can reduce its commercial value. The baskets of tangerines gradually fill up with each step And they are loaded out, forming large piles. Like the tangerine, the harvesting of bell peppers is still primarily carried out by humans. Farmers need to carefully observe the color, Select only the fruit at the precise point of ripeness and gently detach it from the plant. Harvesting a little earlier or later affects the quality. However, things are changing gradually. In modern farms, robots are beginning to be introduced. They use cameras to identify ripe fruits. Then they use mechanical arms to precisely cut each pepper. With the combined effort of humans and machines, World pepper production this year is expected to reach more than 530,000 tons. In developed countries, such as Canada, Machines are gradually replacing human labor in the fields. As for canola, this process has already been almost fully automated. As the harvester moves forward, the front is equipped with sharp cutting jaws. that cut the stems of plants close to the base They feed the entire plant to the processing center. Inside, a threshing and friction system Gently separate the canola seeds from the dry pods and stems. Then the small seeds fall into a screening system for cleaning. before being transferred to the storage chamber. When this chamber is full, All the cargo is unloaded directly onto the container truck waiting alongside. Thanks to these machines, canola production in Canada in 2025 It is forecast to reach a record of 21.8 million tons. Next, we will see how Chinese farmers harvest cassava. The process begins with a decisive cut to remove the top portion of the stem. Then, the farmer uses a hoe to dig deeply into the soil, exposing the roots where the cassava tubers are hidden. Two people need to coordinate, holding the base firmly. and pulling the entire cluster of tubers out of the ground at the same time. Once harvested, the cassava is taken to be processed into flour. It is used in many traditional dishes. It is a simple process, but one that requires strength and precise coordination at every stage. The watermelon is one of the most popular fruits in the world, with consumption reaching 104 million tons. Behind this enormous number are fields where the harvest season occurs almost without interruption. Under the scorching sun, the farmers walk between the rows of watermelons, selecting the ripe ones and cutting the stems. Then, the watermelons are passed hand to hand among the workers, Each fruit was lifted one by one onto the truck, where someone is ready to receive and carefully stack layer upon layer. In recent years, many farms have begun using mobile conveyor belts. The harvesters only need to place the watermelons on the conveyor belt. And she takes her automatically to the truck. Thanks to this, the harvesting process becomes faster and more efficient. From a distance, this giant machine appears to be devouring the entire cucumber field. In front, the system pulls all the grapevines and lush green cucumbers inward. In just a few seconds, the cucumbers are separated from the plant, They immediately pass through an onboard cleaning system and go to the storage compartment. Then, continuous flows of cucumbers are transferred to large containers that run parallel across the field, creating an almost uninterrupted harvesting line. Thanks to modern machines like this, Global cucumber production is projected to reach approximately 100 million tons by 2026. The next location is vast forests of maple trees, Where people collect sap from trees to make maple syrup. The harvesting season usually begins from mid-February to mid-March. During this precious period, farmers drill a small hole into the trunk of the maple tree. With a depth of approximately 3.8 to 5 inches. Then, they attach a small spout to the hole and hang a bucket to collect the clear sap flowing from the trunk. Each such tapping can produce 18 to 56 liters of sap per season. Since most of it is water, the sap needs to be boiled for hours to evaporate the water. Approximately 43 liters of sap are required to produce just 1 liter of concentrated maple syrup. Amid the dense green canopy of the citrus orchards in the U.S. Bright and juicy tangerines begin to appear. Sign that the harvest season has begun. The tangerine pickers move swiftly along the rows of trees, The hands working almost without stopping. They select the finest fruits and gently rotate them to detach them from the branch. They use scissors to cut the stems and toss the harvested plants into baskets attached to the side of their bodies. When the basket is full, it is taken to the collection point in the orchard. It is emptied into large boxes ready for the next shipment. Behind this accelerated harvesting pace are thousands of migrant workers. They usually receive about 50 dollars per box of tangerines. The more they harvest, the greater the yield. The next product is honey. To access the frames full of honey, beekeepers first use a smoker. to gently blow smoke, causing the bees to leave the frames. When the hive becomes calmer, they carefully remove Each wooden frame filled with honey, avoiding damage to the wax structure. Next, the tubes are placed in a centrifuge, where the strong rotational force separates the honey from the wax. Golden, thick streams flow downward. Then they are filtered through sieves to remove impurities before bottling. Thanks to this process, small-scale honey production has become a global industry, with the market valued at approximately 9.92 billion dollars in 2025. Also in 2025, global cabbage production is projected to be close to 80 million tons. To harvest such a huge volume, many modern farms they depend on machines that operate almost without stopping. As the cutting blade moves forward, it cuts the cabbage close to the ground. Logo afterward, quick-release clamps They lift each cabbage plant from the ground and carry it into the machine. When the cabbage goes through the processing system, The old outer leaves are removed by rotating rollers and returned to the field. The cleanest cabbage continues to rise along an inclined conveyor. Dali is directly transferred into large containers. Apple harvesting for cider is also mechanized today. The United Kingdom is currently the world's largest cider market. with more than 450 producers operating daily. In the orchard, the mechanical arm of the tree shaker Grasp the trunk firmly and create strong vibrations. In a few seconds, numerous ripe apples fall to the ground. Next, the apple harvester moves along the rows. The front component sweeps and collects the apples on the ground. Taking them inside the machine. Ali, the apples pass through a cleaning conveyor. to remove extra leaves and branches. Finally, the apples are transferred into large boxes. for transportation to the pressing installation. Pitaya is now a globally preferred fruit, with the market worth approximately 680 million dollars, thanks to the health benefits and the growing demand for tropical fruits. To pick them, farmers go to the orchard early in the morning or in the cool afternoon, when the sun is not strong enough to cause rapid water loss from the fruit. Use scissors to gently cut the stem of each ripe red pitaya, Handling it carefully so as not to break the fruit's characteristic ears. Each fruit picked is placed directly into the basket, carefully arranged to avoid wrinkles. When the basket is full, it is taken to a shaded area next to the field, waiting for buyers to collect and take the fresh and delicious pitayas to the market. Meanwhile, some agricultural products are grown in closed environments, such as mushrooms. Inside mushroom cultivation houses, long shelves are filled with substrate bags. After a period of cultivation, dense clusters of white mushrooms begin to appear. When harvest day arrives, the work goes very quickly. Workers need only gently harvest each cluster of mushrooms from the substrate bag, Handling with care to preserve shape and freshness. Next, the mushrooms are directly transferred to the processing area in the facility. where they are cleaned, sorted, packed, and sold in the market. Last year, global mushroom consumption reached approximately 19.65 million tons. In the vibrant fields of tulips in the Netherlands, there is a rather surprising scene. Hundreds of beautiful flowers are cut in just a few minutes. Sharp blades at the front of the machine glide across the field, cutting off all floral parts. This may seem like a waste, but in reality it helps the plant concentrate all its energy on the most important part. the bulb in the basement. In summer, the excavators begin to operate. They lift the tulip bulbs from the soil, collect them, and take them to be sorted. These flower bulbs are then stored and prepared for the next planting season in the autumn. Thanks to this process, the Netherlands currently supplies approximately 60 to 90 percent of the world's tulip bulbs. The next location is garlic fields in China. This country produces more than 70% of the world's garlic. Behind this enormous number are thousands of hours of operation by millions of harvesting machines. When the machine is operating, a small blade moves beneath the soil to loosen the earth around the garlic roots and cut off the lateral roots. Next, they are grabbed by conveyors and taken to a vibration system to shake off the excess soil clinging to the bulbs. Next, the garlic passes through a cutting system, where the upper leaves are trimmed. Finally, the cleaned bulbs are directly transferred into large containers, ready for processing. In addition to garlic, lettuce is also a popular vegetable worldwide, grown in over 106 countries. In the fields, the harvest is taking place at a very fast pace. The workers bend down to cut each head of lettuce, then place them directly onto a conveyor belt that moves slowly between the rows. Dali, the heads of lettuce continue to flow along the line. Other workers along the conveyor belt quickly sort and rearrange them. In a few minutes, the lettuce is already packaged directly in the field. Today, farmers also use machines to harvest sunflower seeds. But before the machines work, they must wait until the flower heads are completely mature and dry. A flower can contain up to 500 seeds. When the flowers are dry, the harvester begins to operate. In front, there are specialized cutting heads with eight parallel rows, gently gliding over the flower rows at chest height. Within seconds, the seed-filled heads are cut off and carried into the machine. Ali, after the sunflower seeds are separated from the head, they quickly flow into the transport system. Finally, all the seeds are delivered in large-capacity containers. The next item is spinach. Every year, the world produces approximately 34.1 million tons of spinach. In the field, harvesting begins when specialized machines enter the rows. In front of the machine, there is a wide blade near the ground, cutting the green leaves just above the root. This cutting method allows for rapid harvesting without crushing the plants or collecting excessive soil and sand. Immediately after the cut, the spinach slides onto the conveyor system mounted on the machine. Dali, a strong airflow blows the spinach through the discharge tube, pushing it into the rear container. Sweet potatoes represent a significant portion of the world's total vegetable production. Every year, the world produces over 100 million tons of sweet potato. In response to market demand, many large farm owners switched to harvest machines. This machine has a hard steel plow blade that slides beneath the row of soil. This plow gently lifts the entire soil layer along with the sweet potato tubers, avoiding cuts or scratches on the skin. As the conveyor moves, the vines are removed and the sweet potato tubers continue to rise. Finally, the qualified tubers are placed into containers for sale and processing.