Abstract: A mechanical fruit picker includes a vacuum-operated picking tube which is operably mounted to a tractor and which is designed to pick and deliver fruit to a trailer pulled behind the tractor. The vacuum in the tube is created by a blower mounted to the power take-off of the tractor, while foam rubber paddles are provided within the tube to slow the movement and thus prevent bruising of the fruit. An operator using the tube stands on a platform which is hydraulically adjustable in both horizontal and vertical directions and which is mounted on the top of the tractor. The tube is selectively retractible and extensible at both ends so as to facilitate the picking of fruit in difficult to reach locations and to control the distance that the fruit must fall into the fruit storage trailer. The trailer must be lined with foam rubber to further lessen the likelihood of the fruit damage during the picking operation.