Harvesting apples each fall required the labour of many men. Women and children also worked in orchards, especially on farms owned by their families. Workers climbed up tall ladders, picked each apple by hand, placed them in baskets, and carried to tables for packing in wooden barrels and crates. The heavy barrels were placed in wagons which were pulled by horses and brought to the train station. These photographs were taken in the Rueben Scott orchard.

Eating apples fresh has always been a popular food choice. Some farmers also produced apple cider and used evaporators for turning the fruit into dried apples. Local Cramahe canners processed apples into juice, apple sauce and pie filling. The Coyles owned the apple warehouse at the corner of Division and Erie. Other fruit warehouses such as Snetsinger and McDonald also handled apples. These warehouses, along with other export commodities, were located close to the train station for immediate storage and shipping as seen in this 1934 map of Colborne.