How to Start a Berry Picking Farm

Part 1 - How to start a Berry Picking Farm business - Background

A berry farm can operate in one or both of the following ways: it can sell its berries to a distributor, such as a farmers market, or it can let customers into the field to pick the berries themselves, charging by the weight of the berries that the customers picked.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Berry Farm business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a berry picking farm?

Before opening your farm, there are a number of large items you will need to invest in.

• Land – A PYO farm requires a larger plot of land that is close enough for consumers to come and visit, with ample parking.

• Liability insurance – Because customers are visiting the farm, liability insurance is often higher for PYO farms.

• Tractors – Two 70– 80 hp tractors are recommended. Budget for approximately $65,000, if purchased new.

• Heavy duty mower – $1,000

• Fertilizer spreader – $1,200

• Herbicide sprayer – a 200 gallon sprayer will cost approximately $2,000

• V-bladed sweep plow – $2,000

• Drain runner (spinner) – $2,000

• Land clearing – Average cost is $3,000 per acre

• Ditching & drainage – Average cost is $120 per acre

• Forming beds – $25 per acre

• Plants – You will need approximately 1210 per acre at a cost of $0.50 per plant

• Irrigation pond – The required number of irrigation ponds is determined by the size of your farm.

• Irrigation well

• Sprinklers, pipes and valves – Average cost is $120,000

• Pumps – Cost is $9,500 per pump

• Website

• Marketing supplies

What are the ongoing expenses for a berry picking farm?

Until you’ve completed your sixth year, you will have purchases that must be made on an annual basis. For example, your second year, you will need to invest in an airblast sprayer, which will set you back approximately $7,600 and farm trailers for transporting picking trays. Experienced farmers recommend budgeting for four trailers at $1,000 a piece. In years three through six, your budget should include between $50,000 and $200,000 in additional equipment.

Additional ongoing expenses include:

• Labor

• Weed, disease, and insect control – costs will include labor and materials

• Irrigation

• Land lease or mortgage

Who is the target market?

Restaurants or wholesale food distributors will make up the bulk of your commercial berry business. You will be dealing with seasonal high volume sales. For the you-pick farm, your clientele will be more adventurous consumers who enjoy the time spent harvesting their own fruits. This customer will be looking for high quality berries and an inviting atmosphere from the owner and staff.

How does a berry picking farm make money?

Berry farms generate revenue from the sale of their produce. If selling to a wholesale retail buyer, the pricing is by flat. You-pick sales are by the fruit and by the pound.

How much can you charge customers?

The average price for a flat of berries at market is $14. Pick your own customers are charged per pint or by the pound. The average price for a pint is $4.78. Per pound prices average between $3.48 per pound and $4.92 per pound.

How much profit can a berry picking farm make?

There are a number of factors that affect your berry farm’s profitability. For instance, how you structure your business, the health of your soil, the type of berry you grow, the weather, and your irrigation system all affect your annual profits. The average berry farmer reports a loss for the first few years. After that, however, average profits are reported at between $1.3 million and $2.8 million.

How can you make your business more profitable?

There are a number of strategies you can implement to increase your farm’s profitability:

• Bake, can, freeze, and/or dehydrate your berries.

• Open your farm to the public for entertainment, particularly during the holiday season. This could include – petting zoos, hayrides, and holiday festivals.

• Offer educational tours and seminars

• If you have enough land, grow corn and host a corn maze during Halloween.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a berry picking farm?

Since you are running a farm, much of the day-to-day activities will consist of tending to the fruit trees and plants. There will also be some amount of time marketing and selling your produce. And, if customers are picking fruit in your farm, customer interaction will be an important part of your routine. In particular, you will be:

• Feeding, mulching, and planting crops

• Pest control and pruning

• Monitoring and repairing irrigation systems

• Routine maintenance and upkeep on farm equipment

• Ordering fertilizer and re-stocking supplies

• Interacting with customers on social media or a website

• Interacting with you-pick customers

• Marketing and promotions

• Harvesting and packaging produce

• Managing your staff

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful berry picking farm?

Being well-versed in agriculture techniques and trends, particularly for fruit-bearing plants, is usually necessary. Some berries will demand an attentive farmer to thrive. Being-detail oriented in your farming and business dealings will be equally helpful in your success. You must also be a determined and hard-working individual. Farming requires equal parts intelligence and elbow grease. It is also necessary to understand the business of farming and how to read and predict consumer trends.

What is the growth potential for a berry picking farm?

Generally, berry farms are popular, as many consumers enjoy fresh fruits. The you-pick market has become particularly popular as of late. Farming can be an all-consuming endeavor, but berry farms can be modest in size, yet still give profitable returns. For many larger farms, they not only offer fresh produce, but also job opportunities to many local and regional workers.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a berry picking farm?

The following are some tips from established berry farmers:

• Keep in mind that many crops take between one and three years before they start producing enough to really turn a profit. Strawberries, raspberries, and ground cherries produce heavier harvests. Blueberries and blackberries are easier to grow.

• It’s important to keep in mind that PYO farms are considered “seasonal,” as they do not do as well when the economy is up. This is happening less now though, as people are becoming more conscious of the preservatives that go into fruits and veggies that are pre-packaged.

• Because weather is also a factor, experienced farmers urge you to consider having a farm that offers a mixture of both services. That way, if weather is bad one weekend, you don’t lose out on one-fourth of your business.

• For a PYO farm, be sure to have a phone number dedicated to your business, with a voice mail that provides information regarding your prices and hours of operation.

• Weekends and summer holidays will be your PYO’s busiest times, so make sure you are open.

How and when to build a team

To build a successful farm, you will need to assemble a team from the start. PYO farms require longer hours, but a smaller staff, as the sorting and packaging is done by the customer. Farmers cite labor costs at an average of $8 per hour, per employee. This will vary, depending upon your region.

Part 2 - Is a Berry Picking Farm business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Berry Picking Farm business in 90 days