June, 1940] Markets for New Hampshire Berries 49 



milk routes could profitably grow and sell small fruits as a side-line. 



In the northern half of the state, local growers are only partially 

 taking care of nearby markets for strawberries and blackberries. 



Most growers have sold all berries but blueberries in local mar- 

 kets. Few cultivated berry patches of over tvvo acres have been 

 noted. Growers with good late locations might consider growing 

 berries for sale in markets to the south, as in southern New England 

 and New York. Prices of raspberries and strawberries usually 

 strengthen late in the season. 



Late berries have little competition in local markets. Late rasp- 

 berries and strawberries, might be grown in northern New Hamp- 

 shire and other late locations for southern New Hampshire and 

 markets farther south. Certainly, if Florida can ship strawberries, 

 and Washington can ship raspberries and blackberries to New Eng- 

 land cities, we ought to l^e able to do so. 



In general, prices of small fruits are relatively good in New Hamp- 

 shire. Yet no important increase in production has been noted. The 

 difficulties seem to be largely in production. The choking out of 

 plants with witch grass, the weakening or loss of raspberry canes 

 by mosaic and winter killing, late setting of plants, trouble in ob- 

 taining pickers, are examples of common difficulties. Alany growers 

 fail to appreciate the importance of a definite plan and the carrying 

 out of that plan on schedule. This applies to contacts with markets 

 in advance of the season as well as in matters of prodi:ction. 



The fact that berries are highly perishable, really places us in an 

 advantageous position for servicing local markets. 



There should be a good market for everbearing strawberries in 

 late July and August, but few producers have learned to produce 

 them successfully. Important requirements are early setting and 

 irrigation. 



A limited but good market exists for lilackl)erries. Production of 

 better c[uality berries and greater care in picking and handling are 

 necessary to develop a larger market. 



Little development has been noted in the production and sale of 

 cultivated blueberries in the state, although numerous small plots 

 have been set. There ought to be an opportunity for establishing a 

 few small blueberry nurseries in the state. The costs of setting and 

 bringing an acre of cultivated blueberries into production are large, 

 and this has discouraged any rapid increase in plantings. Neverthe- 

 less, there will be, doubtless, some development in the production 

 and sale of cultivated varieties. 



Many who have wild blueberry patches sell picking privileges to 

 others. A few low-bush growers hire pickers and harvest many 

 hundred bushels during the season. Low-bush berries have the ad- 

 vantage of smaller picking costs than high-bush blueberries. 



There should be a good opportunity to sell more good-quality, 

 early grapes in local markets. Very few of the newer early varieties 

 are in bearing in the state. Satisfactory results have been noted 

 with varieties such as Fredonia (blue) and Portland (green), as far 

 north as Franklin. 



