With good management, spindle pickers can consistently put more than 95 percent of the crop in the basket and maintain the natural fiber and seed quality at a reasonable cost. Even though modern pickers have many refinements over those manufactured 15-20 years ago, high field losses and fiber quality problems such as spindle twist and excessive foreign material are often associated with marginal management and operational practices. This paper will (1) emphasize the importance of having both the crop and the pickers in good condition before the harvest season starts, (2) outline the in-field operational procedures necessary for quality preservation, (3) point out the importance of harvesting only when the cotton is dry, and (4) briefly discuss once-over versus twice-over harvesting.