Strawberries - Their Value as a Cash Crop 



We are not going to waste this space on a lot of stories of how yon can make $l,r)00 or 

 $2,000 from an acre of strawberries or build a new house or barn from the profits of two or 

 three thousand plants but we are going to try to give a fair idea of how much you may expect 

 and of the best ways to get the most from your berries. 



Taken year after year no one disputes the fact that Strawberries are one of the most, if 

 not the most profitable crop grown. Yet, some years and under some conditi()ns they show 

 little or no profit, however, this is also true of any crop you may plant and by following good 

 cultural and marketing methods, these low profit years can be almost eliminaicd. 'I'be profit you 

 may normally expect is high in comparison with any other crop and we Ix^lieve we are con- 

 servative in placing a normal profit at $800.00 per acre. Under favorable conditions profits 

 quite often run up to $1,000.00 or even more per acre. This is higher than the average but is 

 a good mark to try for. 



There are two points that make Strawberries an ideal cash crop. First, they are the first 

 fruit harvested in the summer, the returns coming in right when cash is exceptionally desir- 

 able to aid in carrying out other farm projects. Second, the amount of cash recpiired to pro- 

 duce a crop of berries is very small in comparison to any other fruit crop and you do not have 

 to wait several years for them to begin fruiting. Then too, only a small amount of ground is 

 necessary to have a berry field that will show quite large returns. We have found that grow- 

 ers who have five acres or less and who give their plants proper care and market wisely, re- 

 ceive far greater returns than those who have larger acreage not properly cared for. There- 

 fore, do not plant more than you can handle to good advantage. Arithmetic does not apply to 

 berry growing, if you should make $1,000 from two acres it doesn't mean that you would make 

 $10,000 from twenty acres. 



There are two ways in which any enterprise may reach success, first by producing its pro- 

 duct for less than the average, and second, by producing a better (piality than the average. 

 In berry growing this means growing more berries than your neighbor or growing better ber- 

 ries, growing cost being equal. We believe the latter course is the better one because quality 

 can be controlled while production depends largely on weather conditions. Following are some 

 suggestions on the production of high quality fruit. 



1. Plant only such varieties as produce tirni, attractive fruit of high dessert quality, which are 

 adapted to your locality and market. 



2. Keei) the berries closely picked so that they do not become too over-ripe and in so doing lose 

 their, (luality and appearance. 



3. Care in picking and handling will aid greatlv in retaining the high (luality of the fruit. This 

 should receive special attention w'hen the berries are to be shipped long distances or are to l)e kept for 

 two or three days. IJerries that are bruised or crushed will often mold quickly while fruit handled 

 carefully will keep in good condition for as long as a week. The berries should be kept as cool as pos- 

 sil)le and should not be permitted to stand in the sun any longer than is absolutely necessary. 



4. Careful grading will also aid greatly in maintaining high quality. All decayed and imperfect 

 fruit should be discardi'd and any undersized berries packed separately. 



."). Mulching will aid greatly in keeping the berries clean during a rain and also keep the ground 

 cool and moist. "Whis i)ractice is a great aid in producing high quality fruit. 



G. Always use new or clean packages, these greatly enhance the appearance of the fruit and make 

 selling much easier. Dark, dirty crates and baskets should never be used. Quite often dark, unattract- 

 ive packages will tietract twice as much from the selling price as new containers would have cost. 



7. Have your baskets well tilled even if you only put 24 quarts in a 32 quart crate. Everyone likes 

 good measure, give it to them, it TAYS. 



Marketing — This should receive very careful consideration as it is one of the major items 

 in relation to your profit. Of course every grower must work out his marketing method to 

 meet his or her particular requirements, however, the method used should be the one that will 

 realize the very best price for the crop. Should you have a nearby market and your acreage 

 is not too large, by all means retail your berries, in this way yau save the transportation costs 

 and the middleman's profit goes into your own pocket. These are two large items and should 

 not be expended unless no other course is available. Of course, with a large acreage or when 

 markets are at considerable distance the large wholesale markets must be used. 



If you are located close to a well travelled highway, a roadside stand should solve your marketing 

 probl(>m nicely as you will be able to dispose of your "t)erries and some other products at good i)rices 

 and eliminate the trouble and expense of hauling to some nearby city or town. Then there are grocery 

 stores, hotels, and your own private customers, any or all of these may fit into your marketing program. 

 Whatever method you decide on bear in mind that It Pays to Advertise, (irade your berries carefully. 

 Give good full measure, grow varieties that are sweet and good and above all let people know you have 

 them. But do not fall down on your grading no matter how many orders you have to turn down. If you 

 do. all the time and effort you have spent in building up a reputation as a grower of quality berries will 

 quickly be lost. 



When shipping to the wholesale markets grading is just as important as when selling locally. The 

 transportation costs are the same, crates and picking the same, whether thu berries are of the very best 

 quality or are very poor but there will be a great difference in the returns from fancy berries and just 

 ordinary ones. There is always enough spread on wholesale marki-ts so that by commanding top quota- 

 tions your berries will show a nice margin of profit. 



If you ship to a commission house or do not sell for cash don't fail to inquire into the financial 

 standing of the people to whom you sell. This Avill re(iuire very little time and may be the means of 

 preventing the loss of both your time and money. The same is true of the nursery from whom you pur- 

 chase your stock, look them up too, and make sure they are relial)le and have a reputation of shipping 

 only strong, healthy, true to name stock. This will be time well spent. 



3 

 Copyrigrhted, 1935, Kayner Bros.', Salisbury, Md. 



