KindHarvest summary: HMC Farms in Kingsburg, California, is steadily replacing conventional peach blocks with high-density plantings designed around work platforms. The system changes orchard geometry, labour requirements and the speed at which young trees begin producing.
What the story reports
HMC Farms grows about 2,500 acres of peaches, plums, nectarines and grapes. In 2022, roughly one-third of its 2,200 stone-fruit acres was already high density, with a target of converting the full area by 2030. New blocks were planted at about 670 trees per acre—around five times the conventional density described in the source.
The platform-based system is being used for pruning, thinning and harvest. Managers report less ladder work and physical strain, better productivity and a stronger ability to attract workers during tight labour periods. The trellised blocks are also bearing earlier: second-leaf yields were exceeding what the business previously expected from third-leaf conventional trees.
Why it matters
The case shows how orchard design can respond to labour scarcity as well as production goals. Higher density requires capital, new management skills and continuous learning, but it can create a more accessible workplace and shorten the wait for commercial yields.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team brief is based on reporting by David Eddy for Growing Produce, published 19 September 2022. Read the original article at Growing Produce.