The fruit of the effort

While oranges seem like a rather common fruit, it is considered special by Tahitians. Why? Because Tahiti’s oranges aren’t to be found on display among the other fruits in the store. In fact, harvesting oranges in Tahiti is a sort of conquest, requiring much effort, and resulting in great reward.

The oranges grow in obscure places, hidden deep in the valley of Punaruu on Tahiti’s West coast. The only way to harvest the oranges (from June to August) is to hike through the forest, and only those in great physical condition can make their way to the shelter. There, they spend the night and early the next morning they continue on to their secret “orange spot.” The location of the oranges is never revealed.

The orange pickers fill up two big bags each and attach them on both ends of a long bamboo stick. With the heavily loaded stick upon their shoulder, they hastily begin to make their way down. Once back at the point of departure, the women gather the oranges in nets of 10 and put them for sale on the side of the road. No sooner than they have come down, the men return to the forest to pick another batch of oranges, and so it continues, until they have gathered about 80 kg/176 lbs.

One can easily recognize the orange-pickers, not only because of their great physical shape, but also because they tend to have a bump at the base of their neck from having shifted the heavy bamboo stick from one shoulder to the other. It almost looks as if an orange was growing on their back !