Last Friday we were walking home and saw that the palm oil harvest was taking place in the neighborhood. Even though we have driven through many palm oil groves and seen countless trucks carrying the harvested kernels, we never considered that the very tall palm trees in our neighborhood also held kernels in their crowns. Here is the incredibly sharp knife that is attached to a long pole for cutting the kernels.
To swing the blade up to the tree top, the harvester first plants the base of the pole by the base of the tree and pushes up the pole.
Then the blade is moved into position. Many times a branch or two must be cut in order to reach the kernel. The branches come crashing down. I'm sure a good harvester is smart enough not to be standing under the branch or kernel when they fall.
There were two harvesters who methodically worked through all the trees in the neighborhood. We are told that they come through once a month.
When the kernels hit the ground it feels like a mini-earthquake.
The kernel is a big bundle of many small fruits, each full of oil or liquid that will be processed into oil.
A helper loads each kernel into a wheelbarrow and takes them to the truck. Notice that he does not try to lift the kernel as it is very heavy.
At the truck the workers weigh the kernel. I think the kernels must have a minimum weight in order to qualify for sale.
The scale consisted of a pole with a balancing weight.
Then the two workers spear the kernel....
...and heave it up into the truck.
To swing the blade up to the tree top, the harvester first plants the base of the pole by the base of the tree and pushes up the pole.
Then the blade is moved into position. Many times a branch or two must be cut in order to reach the kernel. The branches come crashing down. I'm sure a good harvester is smart enough not to be standing under the branch or kernel when they fall.
There were two harvesters who methodically worked through all the trees in the neighborhood. We are told that they come through once a month.
When the kernels hit the ground it feels like a mini-earthquake.
The kernel is a big bundle of many small fruits, each full of oil or liquid that will be processed into oil.
A helper loads each kernel into a wheelbarrow and takes them to the truck. Notice that he does not try to lift the kernel as it is very heavy.
At the truck the workers weigh the kernel. I think the kernels must have a minimum weight in order to qualify for sale.
The scale consisted of a pole with a balancing weight.
Then the two workers spear the kernel....
...and heave it up into the truck.
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