Start of Harvest:
1) Pressure: range to start harvest is between 5 and 7 pounds (ripe fruit comes off the tree once ripe with 4 pounds of pressure). Fruit loses 1 pound of pressure every 6-7 days.
2) Brix: soluble solids content of the fruit. Ideal to start harvest with 22° brix. The higher the Brix, the better the drying yields, the better the size and consequently the better the yield.
3) Harvest type: consider the daily harvest speed (hectares/day) to coordinate the drying court times and plan to pack the dried prunes in such a way that it is received at the plants between 18 to 20% humidity.

Drying court, ideal conditions for the drying field:
1) Dry and hot climate.
2) Northern exposure and free of trees that can produce shadows.
3) All courts with a slope for draining.
4) Level and compacted soil.
5) Clean, light and well-drained soils. Make a good preparation of the ground without potholes or holes and free of undergrowth.
6) Fencing to prevent the entry of animals and strangers.