Harvest Management
Efficient harvest management ensures you deliver exactly what customers ordered while minimizing waste and maximizing freshness. Learn how to use LocallyGrown's harvest tools effectively.
Understanding the Harvest Process
Review Orders
Check your harvest summary to see exactly what quantities of each product customers have ordered for the upcoming pickup.
Plan Your Harvest
Use harvest reports to plan when and what to pick, accounting for storage time and product freshness requirements.
Record Harvest
Update quantities as you harvest to track actual yields and adjust customer orders if needed.
Package & Label
Prepare orders according to customer specifications and label everything clearly for pickup day.
Using Harvest Reports
LocallyGrown provides several harvest reports to help you plan and execute your harvest efficiently:
📋 Harvest Summary
Overview of all products and quantities needed for the upcoming pickup, organized by product type.
Access through your grower dashboard when orders are placed.
📦 Packing Lists
Individual customer orders broken down for easy packing and organization on pickup day.
View individual orders through the orders section of your dashboard.
📊 Yield Planning
Track what you've harvested vs. what was ordered to improve future planning and inventory management.
Maintain your own records based on order quantities and actual harvest.
Best Practices
💡 Pro Tip
Print your harvest reports the evening before harvest day. This gives you time to plan your route through the fields and identify any potential shortfalls.
Quality Control
- Harvest at optimal times (early morning for most crops)
- Handle products gently to avoid bruising
- Cool products quickly after harvest
- Inspect each item before packing
- Use proper storage containers and conditions
Quantity Management
- Always harvest slightly more than ordered to account for quality sorting
- Update quantities in real-time as you harvest
- Contact customers promptly if you need to reduce their order
- Keep detailed records for future planning
Communication
- Send harvest updates to market managers if there are significant changes
- Include harvest notes with unusual or new products
- Coordinate with other growers to avoid duplicate notifications
Troubleshooting Common Issues
⚠️ Harvest Shortfall
What to do when you can't fulfill all orders due to weather, pests, or other issues.
Solution:
- Update quantities in the system immediately
- Contact affected customers directly when possible
- Offer substitutions if available
- Provide clear communication about the reason
⚠️ Overproduction
When you have more product than ordered.
Solution:
- Offer extras to existing customers first
- Contact the market manager about additional sales opportunities
- Save the best for next market cycle if appropriate
- Consider value-added products (preserves, etc.)