6ome of the public, become necessary to sell the berries on the basis of weight. 

 To combat this problem, Mr. Atherton Parsons of Southampton has one or two quart 

 baskets on a table, at the entrance to the strawberry planting filled with 

 imitation strawberries made of plaster of Paris and painted red with green caps. 

 These sample baskets are filled to indicate what the grov/er considers a full 

 quart. In addition, he has the following rrBgulations posted on a bulletin board 

 for customers to read when they enter the field; 



Adults only in picking field. 



Please be careful to walk only in aisles. 



Pick In quart basket only. 



Baskets msy be purchased here for 2o each. 



Bring berries to stand for settieTuent , 



See sai:ple basket for fullness. 



Heaped baskets 5( extra. 



Mr. Parsons states that it is the small minority of people who try to get 

 too many berries in their quart baskets. 



Growers selling their small fruit on the "pick your own basis" sell baskets 

 to the customers if they have none of their own. Generally, the quart or pint 

 baskets are the only containers allowed in the fields, no pails, kettles, or 

 crates and so forth. 



Ample, nearby parking is a must. Also it is essential to have a place where 

 small children can stay and still not be too far away from their parents. 



Growers have found it necessary to lacdify their cultural practices slightly. 

 Richard Sanford states that strawberry row : zscing should be wider than usual 

 In order to provide ample walking space for customers. In addition, he believes 

 that raspberry cane spacing should be wider to make it easier for the public to 

 find all of the berries. 



Growers generally advertise in their local papers when the berries are ready 

 to be harvested. Many compile a mailing list of customers to v/hom postal card 

 notices are sent when berries are ripe. 



It is not necessary to be on the main roed to operate successfully the "Pick 

 Your Own" method of selling small fruits. All that is necessary is to give explicit 

 directions in the nevrspaper advertisement or Include a map. The erection of neet 

 and well placed signs to direct the customers to the farm is a necessity. 



With the increasing difficulty of getting adequate and reliable labor to pick 

 the small fruit crop, more growers should consider the "Pick Your Own" method of 

 harvesting. Many growers have been able to Increase their acreage using this 

 method of selling. If you haven't tried the "Pick Your Own" method of selling 

 of small fruits, give it a try. It can be a very profLtable way of harvesting 

 the small fruit crop. Remember, however. It takes patience when you are daaling 

 with the public. In many of the road side stand and "Pick Your Own" selling 

 operations, the wife is your best salesman. 



---W. J. Lord 

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