Baskets of Surecrop. One of the better new varieties. Berries like these seldom fail to make a profit. 
STRAWBERRIES AS A MONEY CROP 
A FRANK APPRAISAL 
1957 was a good strawberry year for many growers, for some it was not so good. 
There is a fairly consistent pattern of conditions which make for success or lack of it. 
1. A well cared for home garden is always a success, returns being measured in pleasure and health as 
well as dollars. 
2. The over-size garden or small commercial planting was nearly always profitable. Sales to neighbors, at 
the roadside and other local outlets are the rule. 
3. The larger commercial plantings, one-half acre 
to approximately two acres, with several varieties 
covering the season, were generally successful and 
profitable. Local markets, roadside, pick-your-own 
programs, sales to truckers or shipment to city 
markets are all involved in various projects of 
this size. 
4. For the above types of strawberry projects we 
believe the future is secure and promises greater 
than average profits for the grower. All of these, 
as well as other types which we shall mention, are 
generally more successful if irrigation or naturally 
springy soil is available. Irrigation properly used 
can practically eliminate loss from frost damage 
and greatly increase the size and quality of the crop. 
93. Many larger growers harvested large and profit- 
able crops in 1957, sometimes with, sometimes with- 
out irrigation. Nearly always, however, those 
growers had a high quality product. Examination 
of wholesale market returns showed the fanciest 
fruit, even in the rough market periods, bringing 
satisfactory prices. 
6. Trouble was encountered in 1957 by some larger 
growers, usually withoui irrigation, who had severe 
drought conditions at fruiting time. Usually this 
tresulied not only in a decreased yield but in a 
rather poor quality of berries which were not 
prc able under 1957 conditions. 
7. cowers in the east and middle west, again 
wiin large acreages, who depend almost entirely 
on the processing berry market were often dis- 
appointed. Partly the reason was competition of 
low priced processed berries from California and 
6 
ihe northwest; partly it was due to the fact that the 
variety and quality of their own berries made them 
unsatisfactory for fresh markets. 
8. In some areas, including parts of Kentucky, 
there was a severe reduction of crop and conse- — 
guent lack of profit due to what good authorities 
seem to feel was a severe outbreak of leaf diseases 
—leaf spot and leaf scorch. Confirming that con- 
clusion these authorities point to some fields of 
berries heavily sprayed for disease control where 
the crop was large and profitable. Severe winter 
injury is felt to have caused much damage in 
other cases. 
9. For the first group of growers (1 to 3 above) we 
say confidently, “Full speed ahead and grow your 
usual or somewhat increased acreage of straw 
berries.’ For growers in the troubled areas we 
recommend continued faith in the strawberry in- 
dustry, relying on several important factors. 
a. Yourself and your ability to produce good 
berries. 
b. Acreage limited to what you can care for 
- properly. 
c. Selection of varieties suited to fresh market 
as well as processing, on 
d. Perhaps growers in the low priced areas will 
want a profit too, plus the fact that you can 
grow berries equal or superior in quality to 
the low priced product. 
10. Finally, and repeating, fancy berries seldom 
fail to return a profit. Don't grow too many but ~ 
grow them fancy. 
