3,410. Buying Attached Produce

Hilchos Maaser 5:2

If someone buys produce that is still attached to the ground, or if he buys detached produce to send to another person, the produce is not yet obligated in tithes and he may snack from it.

Hilchos Maaser 5:3

If one person gives another an isar (a denomination of coin) for five figs, he may eat them individually without having to tithe them. If he collects the figs together, then he must tithe them. If a buyer gives a seller an isar for 20 figs that he will choose himself, he may pick and eat them individually. If he acts likewise for a cluster of grapes that he will choose himself, he may pick and eat them individually from the vine. If for a pomegranate that he will select himself, he may remove and eat the seeds while it is on the tree. If for a watermelon that he will select himself, he may bend it to the ground and eat from it. If the buyer cut and gathered the figs, or if he detached the cluster of grapes or the watermelon, he must tithe them because now he has purchased detached produce. However, if he gave the seller an isar for 20 particular figs, for two particular clusters of grapes, for two particular pomegranates or for two particular watermelons, then he may take the produce in the normal fashion and snack on it. An obligation to tithe has not come into effect because in this case he has purchased attached produce.