584 



SHALL I BE A FRUIT GROWER? 



The gross income of fruit farmers is often higher than that 

 of farmers engaged in other types of agriculture (assuming 

 comparable investments), but so are the expenses. It must be 

 remembered that it is not the gross return but rather the mar- 

 gin of profit which determines the final or net income from the 

 enterprise. As an illustration, the following figures obtained 

 from New York State farms on which cost accounts were kept 

 from 1934 to 1937 inclusive are of interest. Compiled by the 

 New York State College of Agriculture, they show average 

 gross returns, costs, and margins above costs of various fruits 

 and of fruits as a whole compared with comparable units of 

 certain other crops. Apple prices were perhaps unusually low 

 at the time. Since fruit growing is such a long-time under- 

 taking, comparsions over a more extended period, perhaps ten 

 years, would be more reliable. 





Gross 

 Returns 



Costs 



Margins 



Fruits 











$126 



$117 



$ 9 





223 



118 



105 





66 



45 



21 





54 



52 



2 



Average, 4 fruits 



$117 



$ 83 



$ 34 



Cash Crops 











$95 



$69 



$26 





39 



41 



-2 



Potatoes 



96 



84 



12 



Canning tomatoes 



100 



83 



17 



Average 



$83 



$69 



$14 



* Three years, 1935-37. 



Capital. Planting and caring for an orchard properly until 

 it begins to yield a return at least sufficient to meet current 



