Thinning is a necessary process in which we remove a large percentage of the set fruit. The reason is to create a scenario where the tree is able to channel energy to the fruit that's left, allowing it to grow larger and with more access to nutrients. The process places the thinned fruit on the ground, reinvesting organic nutrients right back into the soil. It takes a very skilled hand to know where to remove the growing fruit and where not to, allowing even growth through to harvest.