Berries Will Sell 
Handle With Care 
Wholesale Produce Markets. Hundreds of car- 
loads and truckloads of berries are sold in the produce 
markets in large towns and cities. The outlet in these 
markets is very large. Usually canners or juice men 
clean up each day's shipments so there is little hold- 
over. Unlike many other crops, strawberries must be 
sold promptly. Peak shipments of one week cannot 
be held over to glut the market a week later. Prices 
for the best fruit even in low priced years are usually 
high enough to allow a good margin of profit. 
Farmers Markets. Many towns and cities operate 
public markets. In these a farmer can rent a stall or 
booth. In some cases it is only space at the curb for 
wagon or truck. At these markets farmers sell large 
quantities of berries and other produce, just their own 
or for a group of other growers. 
A brand or label will be well worth while if your 
fruit is of good quality and there is enough of it to 
make an impression on the market. This is true for 
farmers markets as well as wholesale produce markets 
in the city. 
Local Sales. These are made to many different 
kinds of buyers — hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, 
hospitals and institutions of various kinds. A busi- 
ness of this kind requires some time to develop but is 
usually a profitable outlet when once established. 
Roadside Markets. If on or near a well-traveled 
highway try a roadside market. Many growers are 
successfully disposing of their crops of strawberries as 
well as other things by this method. It is surprising 
how many automobilists like to buy fruit and vege- 
tables right on the farm. On our own roadside market 
we have many regular customers who drive out from 
town in the afternoon to buy at the farm. Others 
traveling through on business or for pleasure notice 
the market and stop to buy on their return, sometimes 
days later. Attractive products, especially fruits, will 
be bought by tourists to enjoy as they travel. Unless 
you have a market already developed look into the 
possibility of a roadside market. Like many others, 
we were amazed at the results from our own, even the 
first year. Perhaps you will be. 
Advertising. Signs at the farm or notices in local 
papers will be a big help in selling fruit to local buyers. 
We have reports from growers who tell us that one 
small ad has brought enough buyers to their farm to 
dispose of the whole crop. It will not cost much and 
should yield big returns. 
A sample makes a sale. If you are growing high 
quality varieties like Dorsett, Fairfax, Chesapeake or 
others a sample to the buyer will certainly help sell 
the fruit. This is true even on wholesale markets but 
is much more effective where the seller comes in con- 
tact with the actual consumer. 
vSome growers have their berries graded into sizes as 
they are picked. Others, usually with larger acreage, 
make a practice of checking very carefully on the pick- 
ers to see that it is carefully done. These things will 
pay. Here are some other suggestions to aid in putting 
out a nice looking pack which will sell at highest prices. 
Avoid green sides and tips by selecting varieties 
that ripen evenly and without green tips. 
Have the pickers discard undersized berries and 
those which have soft or rotten spots (especially after 
a heavy rain). 
Dirty or gritty berries (after rains) can be largely 
avoided by using a mulch which is even more effective 
if plants have been spaced so the mulch can be worked 
down between the plants. 
Berries look best in the package when the caps 
are left on and from one-quarter to three-quarters of 
an inch of stem is left. 
Bruising and mashing berries detract from 
their value and can be avoided by careful picking and 
handling. 
Well-filled packages not only make the buyer feel 
that he is getting his money's worth (even at a higher 
price) but they actually make the berries show up 
better. 
After being picked berries should be carried to 
the packing shed in a relatively short time. One 
hour's exposure in the hot sunshine will sometimes ruin 
an otherwise fancy quart of berries. 
In packing, face the berries some if you must 
but not too much, as a reputation for an honest pack 
will help you sell on any kind of a market. 
Clean, bright packages will make your fruit 
more attractive to the buyer than dirty, soiled pack- 
ages. Improved types of crates which do not cut and 
bruise the berries as much are being developed. If 
available it may pay you to try them out. 
Pick All That Are Ready. If this is not done soft 
berries like Aberdeen may be over-ripe or rotten by the 
next picking; others, like Fairfax, tend to get dark even 
though they remain solid. Careful attention to this 
point will help keep up the grade of berries throughout 
the season. 
Good berries will 
sell and make a profit 
for the grower. 
Good methods will 
enable the grower to 
produce a nice crop 
of good berries nearly 
every year. To help 
do this we call your 
attention especially 
to "Cultural Meth- 
ods", pages 8 to 12; 
"Steps That Lead to 
Profit", page 13, and 
"Picking the Win- 
ners", page 34. 
Careful picking adds to the value of the berry crop 
5 
