Cannot hold down Mine button to harvest multiple crops at once

Problem: When harvesting a crop, pressing (A)/Mine will only harvest the closest block. So for example if there is a row of sugar cane and you stand at the end, you will only harvest the closest plant and must re-press the button to harvest the next plant, and so on.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Stand at the end of a row of tall crops at least 5 plants deep, facing down the row (2- or 3- height sugar cane works well for testing)

2. With any tool/block in hand, or an empty hand, press and hold the Mine button

Expected Behavior: you mine each crop block in front of you, continuously (or possibly instantly, as it was in console edition) until 5 blocks away have been mined/broken

Actual Behavior: you mine the closest block only, and then the mining/breaking action stops until you release and re-press the Mine button.