The journey of a cigar from seed to retail sale is intricate, involving numerous steps and skilled labor at each stage. Here’s an estimated breakdown of how many hands touch a cigar during its production:

1. Seed Selection and Planting
   • Hands involved: 2-3
   • Tasks: Selecting seeds, planting seeds, and maintaining nursery.
2. Transplanting Seedlings to Fields
   • Hands involved: 3-5
   • Tasks: Preparing fields, transplanting seedlings, and initial care.
3. Growing and Tending the Plants
   • Hands involved: 5-10
   • Tasks: Watering, fertilizing, pest control, and regular maintenance.
4. Harvesting
   • Hands involved: 5-10
   • Tasks: Picking leaves at different stages, categorizing leaves, and initial drying.
5. Curing
   • Hands involved: 3-5
   • Tasks: Hanging leaves in curing barns, monitoring humidity and temperature.
6. Fermentation
   • Hands involved: 3-5
   • Tasks: Stacking leaves for fermentation, turning piles, and quality control.
7. Sorting and Stripping
   • Hands involved: 5-10
   • Tasks: Sorting leaves by quality, stripping veins, and preparing for aging.
8. Aging
   • Hands involved: 2-3
   • Tasks: Monitoring aging conditions, moving leaves as necessary.
9. Blending
   • Hands involved: 2-3
   • Tasks: Selecting and blending leaves for consistency and flavor.
10. Rolling
    • Hands involved: 5-10
    • Tasks: Rolling cigars, quality control, and finishing touches.
11. Aging the Rolled Cigars
    • Hands involved: 2-3
    • Tasks: Monitoring the aging process of rolled cigars.
12. Banding and Packaging
    • Hands involved: 3-5
    • Tasks: Applying bands, boxing cigars, and preparing for shipping.
13. Distribution and Retail
    • Hands involved: 3-5
    • Tasks: Shipping, handling at warehouses, and retail preparation.

Adding up these estimates:

• Seed Selection and Planting: 2-3 hands
• Transplanting Seedlings: 3-5 hands
• Growing and Tending: 5-10 hands
• Harvesting: 5-10 hands
• Curing: 3-5 hands
• Fermentation: 3-5 hands
• Sorting and Stripping: 5-10 hands
• Aging: 2-3 hands
• Blending: 2-3 hands
• Rolling: 5-10 hands
• Aging Rolled Cigars: 2-3 hands
• Banding and Packaging: 3-5 hands
• Distribution and Retail: 3-5 hands

Total: 43 to 77 hands

Thus, an estimated 43 to 77 pairs of hands touch a cigar from seed to retail sale, illustrating the labor-intensive nature of cigar production.