I have noticed that villagers, once they have learned to farm, will pick fruit on thier own. If you are playing, you can stop them...but if the game is closed they will go ahead and pick away on there own.

If you are close to finding another food source, with 952 fruit, your village should be fine and able to sustain...if the population isn't too high. And, I don't think the villagers get terribly 'ticked-off' \:D Well, they may complain a bit but it will be to some random villager, tree, statue...then, back to work! \:D