Apparatus and methods for picking and coring produce heads. A righting mechanism receives and orients planted produce heads, and when a planted head is in a position to be severed, a lift arm and clamp wheel are controlled to position a clamp proximal to the planted head, wherein the planted head is clamped and a severing mechanism severs the planted head from the soil bed. The lift arm and clamp wheel operate to automatically reposition the clamped and severed head proximal to a coring mechanism, and the coring mechanism automatically removes the core of the clamped and severed head.