Photo: Apricots Harvest Central Otago New Zealand

Apricots hanging from the trees in an orchard near Roxburgh, Central Otago in New Zealand ready for harvest time.

The apricots on these trees are fully ripened and are ready for harvest in an orchard near Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand. The branches are starting to droop as the tree is full of bright orange and yellow colored apricots but the work for the commercial pickers has just begun.

A fruit picking machine is used that lowers you up and down making it easy to reach an entire tree of apricots and then they can be emptied into a bag that is attached. From there, they are unloaded into a large crate and are prepared for shipping to various destinations.

During harvest time, employment in Central Otago, New Zealand increases as the commercial fruit growers need all the help they can get to empty their orchards. When you stroll through the acres adorned with ripe apricots, it is like walking through a magical land with the trees drooping over the pathway dotted with shades of orange, yellow and red. ... continue below the picture...

...

Every year, this orchard is adorned with apricots as the climate near Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand is ideal for the trees. Very hot summers followed by cold winters are what apricots need to flourish and produce enough fruit for these people to make a living. On a yearly basis, there is approximately 6.6 thousands tons of fruit that are harvested in Central Otago making the economy thrive.

Ripe Apricots on the trees in an orchard near Roxburgh, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand.