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ii 



STRAWBERRIES-A MONEY CROP 



Every year our customers report that strawberries are the best of all money 

 crops. Golden opportunities exist in the production of quality strawberries. Price of 

 strawberries is dependent upon quality and good berries will always return a profit. 

 Some of the reasons why strawberries are the ideal money crop are listed: 



1. A fairly wide variety of markets is avail- 

 able — roadside markets, processing plants, 

 local hotels and restaurants, shipment to 

 wholesale outlets, and in recent years "Pick 

 Your Own" projects. 



2. Very little machinery is required — none of 

 the highly expensive type. 



3. If good land is used, a high income per 

 acre can be expected. This is especially help- 

 ful where good land is limited. 



4. They can be grown anywhere; fine varieties 

 suitable for every state are available. 



5. Strawberries bear quicker after setting and 

 bear earlier in the season than any other fruit. 



6. Strawberries excel as a family business or 

 large commercial venture. The work is mostly 

 light, suitable for old people, young people, 

 and for women who like to work out of doors. 



7. If you have irrigation it will pay doubly 

 for strawberries in producing larger, better 

 crops and also in protecting the blossoms 

 from frost or freezing in the spring. 



8. Strawberries have a universal appeal. 

 Practically everyone is a potential customer 

 and they can be so attractive when presented 

 for sale either at retail or wholesale. 



CAUTIONS: 



(a) Don't attempt to grow too many. One- 

 half acre well cared for could mean more 

 profit than several acres neglected. 



(b) Plan to do all the things necessary to 

 grow good berries. Experience demonstrates 



that good berries practically always sell at 

 profitable prices — inferior berries only when 

 chance makes a short supply. 



"PICK YOUR OWN" 



The "Pick Your Own" marketing operation 

 is being done by more people every year. 

 Areas within a few miles on all sides of pop- 

 ulation centers are natural for this type of 

 berry growing. Fields will vary from less than 

 an acre to more than 20 acres, with the owner 

 and grower having his crop picked by his 

 customers. Packages are usually supplied by 

 the grower and the harvesting operation con- 

 sists of supervising his customer-pickers and 

 collecting the money for the fruit. 



"Pick Your Own" in most cases provides an 

 ever-increasing market for the crop, as satis- 

 fied customers tell their friends and more and 

 more people come out. In addition, many 

 "Pick Your Own" operators have a regular 

 mailing list by which they inform customers 

 of past years of varieties which are available 

 and when they will be ready. A small ad in 

 the newspaper, a spot announcement on the 

 radio station or other available publicity 

 may be necessary to bring customers for the 

 first time. After your reputation for good ber- 

 ries is established they will be back. The 

 people who are in this enterprise are most 

 enthusiastic. 



The city dweller getting his supply of straw- 

 berries this way is able to get at fair prices 

 completely fresh strawberries for his own use 

 with an outing that mixes work and fun. 



New Haven Co., Conn. March 7, 1963. "Your plants which I bought two years ago were excellent. 

 I did not lose one plant out of the 500 set. I sold all the berries retail at a local shopping center. 

 It is unbelievable but one summer evening I sold 100 quarts in less than one-half hour at 79c per 

 quart." William L. Lavorgna. 



Washington Co., Pa. Ian. 30, 1963. "Three years ago I got 3,000 plants. I sold approximately 2,500 

 quarts right at the door. I have a good trade of better class customers that at times travel miles just 

 for my berries." Ernest W. Parnell. 



