FRUITPICKER

Tool for harvesting fruit from public trees, designed to reduce urban food waste.

Sustainable project, Lund 2022. MA 1st year sustainability focus. Developed through user research and iterative prototyping with materials testing in real conditions.

Public fruit trees go unharvested because fruit grows beyond reach and people lack simple, shared tools. The project resulted in a demountable fruitpicker that balances reach, portability, and durability for public use.

The tool uses a hook-and-stick system that can reach high branches while remaining portable when disassembled.

Lund has 394 edible plants, including 220 fruit trees, yet much of the fruit remains unharvested because higher branches are inaccessible without tools. Although fruit picking from public spaces is legal in Sweden, few people carry harvesting equipment. The project aimed to create an accessible tool that could be stationed near trees for shared community use.

Initial testing with improvised prototypes confirmed that a hook-on-stick approach worked best for maneuvering through branches. The key challenge was portability: the tool needed sufficient length for high branches but had to be easily transportable between locations.

Iterations focused on testing division mechanisms, weight distribution, and material combinations. The solution uses a tapered wooden construction with a metal sleeve at the division point, combining light weight with structural stability.

The fruitpicker divides into two sections by pushing up the metal sleeve and unscrewing. Tapered wood reduces weight while the metal reinforcement prevents splitting at the connection point. The hook design allows fruit to be pulled down without damaging branches.

All components are replaceable, extending the tool’s lifespan and allowing repairs without full replacement.

The final design balances reach, portability, and durability for public use. Testing in real conditions validated the approach: the tool successfully harvests fruit from heights that would otherwise go unpicked, directly addressing food waste in urban environments.

MA 1st Year | Sustainability Project