How to Choose the Right Picking Bag for Your Orchard!

by Craig Kelly

The complete guide for apple, kiwifruit, citrus, stonefruit, and cherry growers.

Choosing the right picking bag isn’t just about comfort — it directly affects bruising rates, picker productivity, fruit quality, and ultimately your returns. Different crops, terrain, and picking methods require different features, and with so many options available, it can be hard to know which bag is the best fit for your orchard.

At Harvestwear, we’ve spent decades designing picking bags for growers across New Zealand, Australia, the USA, and Europe. This guide will help you understand the key differences so you can select the right bag for your fruit and your team.

1. Hard-Shell vs Soft-Shell: What’s the Difference?

Both designs have their own strengths.

✔ Hard-Shell Picking Buckets (Yieldmax & Regular Buckets)

Best for: Apples, pears, stonefruit, kiwifruit

Hard-shell buckets maintain their shape and offer:

  • Excellent fruit protection due to foam-lined shells

  • Fast emptying with shaped or flared bases

  • A consistent, open mouth for high-speed picking

  • Extended lifespan — often lasting many seasons

These are ideal where minimising bruising is critical.

✔ Soft-Shell Picking Bags (PC Series & Premium Bags)

Best for: Citrus, avocados, feijoas, kiwifruit, multi-crop orchards

Soft bags offer:

  • Flexible capacity

  • Lightweight construction

  • Easy front or side access

  • Comfortable for long picking days

In Australia, the Picker’s Choice (PC Series) is widely preferred for citrus.

2. Choosing by Crop Type

🍎 Apples & Pears

Best option: Yieldmax 28L or 36L
Why:

  • Reduces bruising

  • Fast emptying

  • Support+ harness improves comfort and endurance

Alternative: B28, B21 Regular Bucket for growers wanting a proven, economical model.

🥝 Kiwifruit (high bruise risk)

Best option: YieldLux 36L (YL3610E)
Why:

  • Fully foam-lined

  • Lightweight

  • Replaceable parts

  • Designed specifically to reduce bruise rates

Alternative: Premium Soft Bag for pergola or low-impact systems.

🍊 Citrus (NZ & Australia)

Best options:

✔ Picker’s Choice Soft Bag – PC45 / PC33

Highly popular in Australian citrus orchards.
Why growers love it:

  • Large unobstructed mouth

  • Tough PVC-coated front reduces puncture risk

  • Lightweight, economical and extremely durable

  • Support+ harness improves picker comfort

✔ Premium 45L Soft Bag (KB4505)

Ideal for mixed-crop operations needing extra adjustability and comfort.

Citrus is hardy, so growers typically prioritise volume, durability and ease of use — the PC Series fits this perfectly.

🥑 Avocados

Best option: Premium 45L Soft Bag (KB4505)
Why:

  • Gentle on delicate skins

  • Adjustable load size

  • Comfortable, ergonomic harness

🍑 Stonefruit

Best option: B14S Small Hard-Shell Bucket
Why:

  • Reduced fruit movement

  • Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre

  • Designed specifically for bruise-prone fruit

🍒 Cherries (extremely delicate)

Best option: Cherry Harvester (CH10 / CH10P)
Why:

  • Minimises handling

  • Pivoting frame keeps pail level

  • Reduces bruising during transport

Traditional bags are not recommended for cherries.

3. The Importance of the Right Harness

A good harness directly affects picker comfort, endurance, and fruit-handling quality. Harvestwear offers two harness systems to suit different working styles:

✔ Support+ Harness (Standard on Premium Models)

Our most advanced harness.
Designed to:

  • Spread weight across a wide shoulder area

  • Reduce back and shoulder strain

  • Improve comfort over long days

  • Increase picker productivity

Included on Yieldmax, YieldLux and Premium bags.

✔ Traditional Crossover Harness (Standard on Regular Buckets)

Reliable, simple, and economical — ideal for lighter loads or shorter picking days.

Optional Support+ Harness upgrade available separately.

✔ Ergo Harness (Sold Separately)

Breathable, lightweight option preferred for pruning or light-use picking.
Not offered as an upgrade selection at checkout, but compatible with many Harvestwear bags.

4. Replaceable Liners & Parts: Why They Matter

Cheaper bags often fail early because one worn part means the entire bag must be replaced.

Harvestwear designs many models with:

  • Replaceable liners

  • Replaceable side ropes

  • Replaceable harness systems

This dramatically extends the product’s lifespan — and lowers long-term costs.

Better for your budget, better for the environment.

5. What’s the Best Option for Your Orchard?

Here’s a quick reference guide:

Crop Best Bag Why
Apples & Pears Yieldmax 28L / 36L Low bruising, fast emptying
Kiwifruit YieldLux 36L Superior bruise reduction
Citrus PC45 / PC33 Durable, economical, citrus-friendly
Citrus (premium) KB4505 Adjustable capacity & comfort
Avocados KB4505 Gentle handling
Stonefruit B14S Reduced movement & bruising
Cherries CH10 / CH10P Minimal handling

For mixed-crop orchards, the PC Series and Premium 45L provide excellent versatility.

6. Final Thoughts: Choose Gear That Protects Fruit and People

A good picking bag should:

  • Reduce bruising

  • Increase picker efficiency

  • Be comfortable for long days

  • Last multiple seasons

Harvestwear bags are designed in New Zealand and trusted around the world because they deliver on these promises.

Need help choosing the right bag?

We’re always happy to help.
Email: sales@harvestwear.com

 

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