Considering a pick-your-own operation.

[TnAndy]

I bought some property adjacent to ours, and cleared 3 acres of scrub brush, small trees, etc off it just before Christmas. Right now, it's bare ground, still needs roots/rocks/etc picked up (to wet to get on right now), and I was going to do that as soon a the ground can be gotten on, then plant in pasture, and simply give me another place to run a few cows on (we keep 3-4, mainly for our own freezer, sell an extra now and then).

But we're also considering a PYO blueberry operation. There is no close competition...over the line in NC there are some (we actually drive over there and pick ours), we located reasonably near (1/2hr) a population of 100k, so I think there is a market. Couple farmers markets locally that are well supported.

The property fronts a paved county road, slopes up to the back. Soil should be good for blueberry, having been wooded property before, and local native huckleberries grow here on same ground (yeah, I'd have it tested, know blueberries take a low PH). I figure to build a small building, have water/bathrooms available, sell some picked berries as well as PYO. Place we go over in NC, you pick a gallon for you, and pick a gallon for them, you get yours free....otherwise $8gal you-pick, and $15gal they pick. So we get ours 'free'....

Anybody run one ? Thoughts ? How much do you spend on insurance ? That kind of thing.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[smstonypoint]

Andy,

Various land-grant universities have published information/guides on PYO operations. A quick search turned up this publication from UT: https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1802.pdf. Based on a brief scan, it appears to be useful.

Good luck.

Steve

 

[MossRoad]

As suggested, talk to you county extension agent. They can be most helpful. Worked great for our tree farm. :thumbsup: