What visual cue signals that mature Opuntia fruit is ready for harvest?
Answer
The mature fruit separating more easily from the plant
While the fruit of Opuntia varieties exhibits a range of colors upon ripening—from green to deep purple, red, yellow, or orange—the most reliable indicator that the fruit is ready for harvest is mechanical. Mature fruit naturally separates from the plant structure with significantly less resistance than immature fruit. This ease of separation is a key visual and tactile cue for harvesters, indicating that the fruit has reached the stage where its internal pulp is most likely developed and ready to be accessed, assuming proper exterior cleaning is performed afterward.
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