Summary 



Strawberry Production. More than one half of New Hampshire's straw- 

 berries are produced in Rockingham and Hillsborough counties. Many mar- 

 kets are undersupplied, particularly late in the season. Some surpluses exist 

 at the height of the season. Slightly less than 3 percent of New Hampshire 

 farms produce strawberries. 



Strawberry Consumption. Strawberry consumption in the United States 

 in 1949 was 1.7 quarts per capita. H we assume that we eat one half this 

 amount during the local season in New Hampshire, we would still meet only 

 one half our needs through our own production (.4 quart per capita pro- 

 duced in New Hampshire in 1949). 



Strawberry Yields. The yields as reported in the census figures are low 

 (1,971 quarts per acre in 1949 in New England and 1,404 quarts in New 

 Hampshire). Yet in eleven commercial plots in New Hampshire' average 

 yields varied from 6,000 to 12,000 quarts per acre. Individual varieties in 

 1949 ranged from 9,783 to 17,370 quarts per acre (based on check plots). 

 Top yielding varieties in order of yield were Pathfinder, Howard 17, and 

 Great Bay in 1949, and Sparkle, Great Bay, and Howard 17 in 1950. Sparkle 

 and Great Bay were the two best-yielding late varieties with peak yields 

 about a week later than Howard 17. 



In 1950, a southern New Hampshire grower had 89 percent of his Great 

 Bay's ripen after July 1, compared to 23 percent for Howard 17. A northern 

 New Hampshire grower had 91 percent of his Great Bay's ripen after July 

 9, compared to 49 percent of his Howard 17's. The Pearl, a very late variety, 

 produced more than 95 percent of its yield after July 1, compared to 33 

 percent for Howard 17. But the yield of Howard 17 was 70 percent greater. 



Strawberry Size. Size is important as it relates to picking costs, prices, 

 and sales. Great Bay and Catskill varieties are both large varieties. For one 

 grower in 1950, 60 percent of the Great Bay's graded large as compared to 

 31 percent for Howard 17. The costs per quart for picking test rows in 1950 

 ranged from 6.7 cents to 9.7 cents per quart with time valued at 60 cents 

 per hour. The picking cost for Great Bay's in 1950 ranged from 3 cents 

 (third picking) to 17.1 cents (11th picking) and averaged 6.7 cents per 

 quart with time valued at 60 cents per hour. 



Sales. Most growers in New Hampshire retail at least part of their crop. 

 Success in selling berries on the patch depends on good management, good 

 berries, reasonable prices, proper publicity, and a continuous program. 



Some supermarkets tend to prefer to sell all berries at one price and 

 they may not allow proper differentials for quality. In customer checks made, 

 it was found that about 37 percent bought strawberries and about 75 per 

 cent of those bought only one quart. 



Cellophaned strawberries did not sell as well as uncellophaned ones as 

 customers were suspicious of the quality they were getting. 



Everbearing strawberries sold well in August at prices about double 

 those in the regular season. 



Some of the locker plants buy a few strawberries for freezing. One 

 Massachusetts plant, which makes a business of processing, bought New 

 Hampshire berries. 



