When can citrus fruits be picked?
Although many citrus fruits are picked while still green, it’s best to allow fruit to ripen on the tree for maximum flavor. “Unlike some other fruits, citrus fruits do not ripen further once they have been removed from the tree, so it is important that they are picked at the right stage of maturity. Maturity is measured depending on different characteristics such as color, juice content, level of soluble solid (sugar) and solids to acid ratio. Normally, citrus fruits are harvested by hand. Fruit is best harvested after 8:00 in the morning, when dew has dried up, since otherwise, if the fruit was still wet, it would become dark and get spoiled…The general way to pick the fruit is by pulling it from the stem, using gloves in order to avoid damaging the fruit.” http://www.unctad.
