We are glad we can provide good paying jobs for these families, that would otherwise be unemployed. The berries grow on a seed stalk that comes out from the bottom of the saw palmetto bush. Later in the season, the berries will begin to turn black. At this point they are more likely to fall when handled vigorously. Shaking the seed stalk or attempting to cut it will cause most of the berries to fall to the ground.
Innovative pickers come up with various picking utensils.
One tool that seems to work well is an apparatus shaped like a fish dip-net. This is placed under the berry frond. When the berry frond is hit with a blunt object like a bat, the berries fall into the net. This is repeated until the pickers bags are full.