f$ Strawberries Pay $f 



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13-15 



10-12 





15-25 



15-20 



15-20 



13-15 



14-17 



12-17 





22-28 



22-30 



25-32 



25-30 



28-30 



ACTUAL SALES OF STRAWBERRIES ON THE NEW YORK CITY 

 WHOLESALE MARKET IN 1942. Taken at random from the market reports of 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture: 



Blakemore Premier 

 Virginia berries May 20 13-14 11-12 



Maryland berries May 23 12-18 



Delaware berries May 26 12-14 



New Jersey berries May 29 15-20 20-25 



Hudson Valley berries June 6 22-28 



Connecticut berries June 10 various varieties 17-22 some high as 25c per quart. 



Oswego, N. Y. June 16 various varieties 17-22 some high as 27c per quart. 



Even with increased costs strawberry growers made money — real profits — 

 in 1942. A good grower should get at least 4,000 to 5,000 quarts per acre. Some 

 double that yield. Figure it out at these 1942 prices. 



Please keep in mind that the above figures are not retail or small quantity 

 prices but are wholesale only. Notice also that prices increased as the season 

 advanced. This is a healthy state of aKairs for the producer and very encouraging 

 for the future. 



THE FACTS OF THE SITUATION POINT TO CONTINUED GOOD 



PRICES AND PROFITS FOR STRAWBERRY GROWERS WITH 



MODERATE ACREAGE. 



1. Total production of berries will be down at least for the duration of the war because: 



a. The chief trouble is lack of pickers. Large growers simply cannot get the help to harvest large acreages 

 during the short picking season. They must cut down or see many of their berries rot in the fields. 



b. Some growers who would have small acreages are in the armed forces or have been attracted to war 

 industries. 



c. Other small growers will turn to crops which require less labor per acre, oven though the probable 

 income is also much less. 



d. Uncertainty about pickers as well as actual shortage will cause some reduction of acreage even among 

 those who normally grow three acres or less. 



2. Prices of berries will continue high because: 



a. Production will be down — less berries to sell. 



b. The masses of people will have plenty of money to buy what they want — and there are few who do not 

 like strawberries. 



c. Price ceilings are unlikely with so perishable and so variable a crop. 



d. Transijortation difficulties will make it harder for large producing areas to Tload up" the markets in 

 small towns and cities. 



THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT STRAWBERRIES FOR PROFIT. 



Don't overload, but study your possible labor supply and grow as many as 

 you see a reasonable chance of getting picked. Keep in mind that, while there 

 are good pickers and bad pickers, almost anyone can do this kind of work. Boys 

 and girls, your own, your neighbors, their friends and schoolmates. Unskilled 

 workers, men and women. People from nearby towns and cities who may help 

 because they can make good wages and for patriotic reasons want to help save 

 any food crop. 



That thought appeals also to you as a grower. Fruit is essential to the health 

 of the nation. It is a necessity, not a luxury. Strawberries are listed as an essential 

 feurm crop by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. We should grow all of them, 

 as well as other essential crops, that we can for reasons of patriotism as well as 

 of profit. 



