Do Hard Shell Picking Bags Improve Packouts?

by Craig Kelly

In many growing regions — including Australia, United States, and Canada — there is an ongoing discussion around picking equipment and fruit quality.

One of the most common questions is:

Do hard shell picking bags actually improve packouts?

Most growers believe they do. Few say they’ve seen little difference.

At Harvestwear, we’ve worked alongside orchard teams in multiple countries for many years. Our honest answer is:

Hard shell picking bags can improve consistency — but only when used as part of a well-managed harvest system.

They are not a silver bullet.

What Is “Packout” in Harvest?

Packout refers to the percentage of harvested fruit that meets premium grade at the packhouse.

Even a small change in packout can have a major financial impact, especially for export-focused operations.

Packout is influenced by many factors, including:

  • Picker technique

  • Training and supervision

  • Variety sensitivity

  • Weather conditions

  • Bin filling methods

  • Harvest equipment

Picking bags are one part of this system.

Where Fruit Damage Usually Occurs

Most harvest-related bruising happens in three main areas:

  1. Inside the picking bag

  2. During transfer from bag to bin

  3. When fruit contacts bin edges or drops from height

When soft materials collapse under load, pressure points can develop inside the bag. Discharge into bins can also become less controlled.

Hard shell systems are designed to provide consistent structure, helping to support fruit under load and improve discharge control.

However, they cannot compensate for rushed handling or poor technique.

How Do Soft and Canvas Bags Compare?

Traditional canvas and soft shell picking bags have been used successfully for decades and are still widely used across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Canada.

Many well-run orchards continue to achieve strong results using these systems.

They offer several advantages:

  • Lightweight and familiar

  • Lower upfront cost

  • Simple to repair

  • Proven in long-term use

For many growers, these bags remain a practical option.

Under heavier loads and long harvest days, however, soft materials can lose shape. This may increase uneven pressure and reduce control during discharge.

This does not mean soft or canvas bags are “wrong”. In well-managed systems with good training, they can perform very well.

Hard shell systems were developed to reduce this variability by maintaining structure under load.

We see these same discussions across multiple growing regions, reflecting how universal these challenges are in modern harvest systems.

Why Some Growers See No Difference

In high-pressure harvest environments, picker behaviour has the greatest impact on fruit quality.

If:

  • Bags are overfilled

  • Fruit is dumped aggressively

  • Training is limited

  • Speed is prioritised over care

Then the benefit of structured equipment can be reduced.

In these situations, changing bags alone is unlikely to deliver measurable gains.

When Structured Systems Show the Most Benefit

Hard shell systems tend to have the greatest impact in:

  • Export-focused orchards

  • High-value varieties

  • Long harvest seasons

  • Large fruit sizes

  • Well-supervised teams

In these environments, small improvements can compound over time.

Is There Clear Data?

While general horticultural research supports controlled fruit handling, few orchards track damage at a detailed level.

Proper measurement would require:

  • Tracking bins by picker and bag type

  • Separating fruit at packhouse

  • Comparing downgrade percentages

  • Running trials over multiple days

Because this is rarely done, hard data is limited.

This does not mean improvements are not occurring — it means they are seldom isolated and measured.

A Practical Perspective

In our experience across multiple countries, hard shell picking bags help reduce one controllable damage point in the harvest system.

They do not replace good management, training, or supervision.

When used correctly, they contribute to greater consistency.

Reviewing Your Harvest System

Rather than asking whether one type of bag is “better”, a more useful question is:

Is our harvest system reducing avoidable damage wherever possible?

For many growers, reviewing equipment is part of that process.

If you’d like to discuss your operation, timing, and priorities, we’re always open to a practical conversation.

Craig Kelly
Owner / Director
Harvestwear Global Ltd

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