Mietere vs. raccogliere
While both 'mietere' and 'raccogliere' relate to harvesting, they have distinct uses and connotations in Italian.
Mietere
'Mietere' specifically refers to harvesting grain crops by cutting, typically with a scythe or machine.
Il contadino miete il grano con la falciatrice.
(The farmer reaps the wheat with the mower.)
È giunto il momento di mietere l'orzo.
(It's time to harvest the barley.)
Raccogliere
'Raccogliere' is a more general term for gathering or collecting, applicable to various crops, objects, or even abstract concepts.
In autunno, raccogliamo le mele nel frutteto.
(In autumn, we gather apples in the orchard.)
Gli studenti raccolgono informazioni per il loro progetto.
(The students collect information for their project.)
Dobbiamo raccogliere le foglie cadute in giardino.
(We need to gather the fallen leaves in the garden.)
Summary
'Mietere' is specific to harvesting grain crops by cutting, while 'raccogliere' is a versatile term for gathering various items or concepts. 'Mietere' is more limited in scope, whereas 'raccogliere' can be used in a wide range of contexts beyond agriculture.