Hand-Selected and Carefully Harvested

Hand-Selected and Carefully Harvested

How Backwoods Foliage Harvests Fresh Palm for Palm Sunday

Every year, churches across the country prepare for Palm Sunday by distributing palm buds fans, crosses and strips to their congregations. While many people see the palms in church, few know what happens behind the scenes before those palms arrive. At Backwoods Foliage, harvesting palms is a careful process that focuses on freshness, quality, and timing so churches and wholesale distributers receive the highest quality palm we have available.

This article explains how palm buds are harvested and prepared before they are shipped to churches and distributors.

Harvesting Begins in Natural Palm Groves

Palm fronds used for Palm Sunday are typically harvested from mature palm trees growing in warm climates where palms thrive year-round. Harvesting palms requires experience because not every frond on the tree is suitable.

Harvesters look for fronds that are:

  • meet the requirements of a harvest ready palm bud

  • Strong, hard, closed tightly, preferably on a stem

  • Free from damage or disease

  • Clean from dirt and debris

Selecting the right fronds ensures the palms hold up well during shipping and are easy to fold into crosses or distribute during church services.

Hand-Selected for Quality

Palm harvesting is a hands-on process. Each frond is cut individually rather than mechanically removed. This allows harvesters to carefully choose the best fronds and avoid damaging the tree.

Proper harvesting helps ensure:

  • The palm tree continues producing healthy fronds

  • Only high-quality foliage is collected

  • Customers receive palms that look clean and uniform

Attention to detail during harvest makes a big difference in the final product.

Trimming and Preparing the Palms

Once the fronds are harvested, they are trimmed and prepared for packing. During this step the palms are:

  • Counted, sorted by size and quality

  • Cleaned of excess material

  • Bundled for transport or sale

This preparation ensures the palms buds arrive in their best shape and ready for distr

Keeping Palms Fresh After Harvest

Because palms are a natural product, freshness is extremely important. After harvesting, the fronds are handled carefully to help them maintain moisture and flexibility.

Freshly harvested palms are:

  • Stored in walk in coolers and shaded environments

  • Packed quickly after harvest

  • Prepared for shipment as soon as possible

This helps ensure the palms remain fresh when they reach their destination.

Packed and Prepared for Shipment

Once the palm buds are harvested and gone through quality control, they are tied with hay string into a bundle and packed so they can travel safely to churches, distributors, and organizations preparing for Palm Sunday services.

Proper packing helps protect the palm buds during transit and keeps them together in a bundle and in good condition until they arrive.

Many customers coordinate their own shipping logistics, while others request assistance arranging transportation so their order arrives on schedule.

Timing the Harvest for Palm Sunday

Even though we have our palm products available year round, the majority of  the  palm harvesting is closely tied to the Palm Sunday calendar. Because thousands of churches celebrate the event at the same time, harvesting and packing must be carefully timed.

Orders are typically scheduled so customers receive their palms about one week before Palm Sunday, allowing enough time for preparation and distribution.

A Natural Product Prepared with Care

Palms represent an important tradition for churches. At Backwoods Foliage, the harvesting process focuses on delivering strong, fresh palm fronds that churches can rely on for their services.

From careful hand selection in the field to preparation and packing, every step is done with the goal of providing palms that arrive ready for one of the most meaningful days of the church year.<hr>
<h3>Ready to Order Your Palms?</h3>
<p>We offer a full range of authentic Florida palm products, hand-harvested and ready to ship:</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="/products/handmade-palm-crosses">Handmade Palm Crosses 8" – 25, 50 & 100 count</a></li>
  <li><a href="/products/palm-strips-100-count">Palm Strips – 100 count</a></li>
  <li><a href="/products/large-palm-buds">Large Palm Buds</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Order early</strong> — stock is limited and made to order. <a href="/collections/palm-sunday">Shop all Palm Sunday products →</a></p>

<hr>
<h3>Ready to Order Your Palms?</h3>
<p>We offer a full range of authentic Florida palm products, hand-harvested and ready to ship:</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="/products/handmade-palm-crosses">Handmade Palm Crosses 8" – 25, 50 & 100 count</a></li>
  <li><a href="/products/palm-strips-100-count">Palm Strips – 100 count</a></li>
  <li><a href="/products/large-palm-buds">Large Palm Buds</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Order early</strong> — stock is limited and made to order. <a href="/collections/palm-sunday">Shop all Palm Sunday products →</a></p>