Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY
If you are selling directly to consumers through U-pick or a roadside
stand, a diversity of products is usually better than having a single crop
and variety. Providing a diversity of products brings customers to you
throughout the summer and fall. The same applies if you are selling
fruit to a local packing house. Quite often even large, well-established
growers prefer to raise at least several different varieties, and often
two or more different crops. As with buying stocks and bonds, diversi-
fication reduces your risks and helps even out your cash flow.
The downside to diversification is that you must become an expert at
growingseveralcropsandvarieties.Ifyouarenewtotheorchardbusi-
ness, remember to start small and focused. As your skills develop and
you gain experience, you can safely expand your offerings.
Off-Farm Sales
Selling produce off the farm provides markets for orchards that are not well
located for U-pick or roadside stand sales, and it can increase marketing
options for growers with U-pick and roadside stand outlets. Although your
labor inputs are higher than for U-pick, harvesting the fruit yourself gener-
ally results in increased yields of marketable fruit over U-pick operations,
and you can ensure the fruit is harvested at the proper ripeness for your
particular markets. Farmers' markets are among the most common outlets
for retail off-farm sales. You can also market directly to consumers through
subscriptions in a program called community supported agriculture (CSA).
