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Resources for Farmers
Are you interested in starting a PYO operation? Or you
are looking for information to help manage your operation better? The
information below ought to be of great value to you! Start with the first link
below about how to start a pick-your-own farm, and remember, you can list your
farm, orchard, pumpkin patch, horse riding stables, Christmas tree farm etc, on
this website for free!
Here are some of the U-pick-specific resources I've found on
the internet:
How to start a pick-your-own or other agri-entertainment operation
Supplies and management services
- Containers for your
customers
- Water
Management and crop enhancement - M&D Enterprises has a water
management program which they say will increase the efficiency of water.
Reduce runoff which will reduce erosion, increase effectiveness of
herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, elimination of dry spots on lawns,
pastures, crop fields, and alfalfa. Seed treatment for germination and root
growth. A liquid micronutritional fertilizer supplement to help maximize
crop yield.
Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
Farmer's Organizations:
Resource websites:
- Beginning
Farmers.com - provides information
for new farmers and potential farmers about: funding resources, finding land,
internships and jobs, production practices, marketing strategies, farmer
training programs, business planning, useful publications, and lots more.
-
Library4farming is publishing a series of books on the
web on all aspects of farming. Currently they have published The Yearbook of
Agriculture for 1947, titled "Science in Farming". hey have in process the
Yearbooks of Agriculture "Gardening for Food and Fun", "Insects" and
"Seeds".
More research for farmers
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Who Is The Typical PYO Customer?
according to the University of Wisconsin
- Age:
One-fourth are over 62, and 43% are 26-45
- Education: Nearly 60%
are educated beyond high school, with one-third being college
graduates.
- Income: Two-thirds
have annual household incomes over $25,000, and one-fifth have
incomes over $50,000.
- Spend at the PYO: One-third
spend between $5 and $10 per visit. One-fourth spend less than $5.
One in 10 purchase $20 or more per visit.
- Found the farm by: Over half
learned of the market through word-of-mouth.
(obviously this study was done before
www.pickyourown.org! :)
- Far far to go: Eighty
percent traveled less than 40 miles to get to the farm.
- Want organic: Nearly half
are concerned about the use of agricultural chemicals.
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Newsletters
Florida
Berry/Vegetable Times
Massachusetts Berry Notes
Michigan State University
Fruit Crop Advisory Team (CAT) alerts
Ontario Berry Newsletter
Strawberry IPM update
The New York Berry News
Nursery Selection
Guide:http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/nurseries/index.html
Lists of available cultivars of North American berry crops and nurseries
that sell them.
Publications, Factsheets, Infosheets
Minnesota Apple & Strawberry Reports
Ontario
Agriculture and Food: Berry Page
PSU
Small Fruits web site
Strawberry
Eats & Treats - The Guide to Enjoying Strawberries
U. of Florida Strawberry Lab
U. of Vermont
Berry Links
Organizations in the states and Canadian provinces that
are interested in berries, small fruit, etc.
Strawberries
California Strawberry Commission
Florida Strawberry Growers
Association
BC Strawberries.com - Fraser Valley
Strawberry Growers Association
N C Strawberry Association
Oregon Raspberry &
Blackberry Commission
Blueberries
British Columbia Blueberry Council
MBG Blueberry Marketing
Cooperative
North American Blueberry Council
Wild Blueberry Association of
North America
Brambles
British
Columbia Raspberry Growers' Association
British Columbia Raspberry
Industry Development Council
North
American Bramble Growers Association
Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry
Commission
Home of the Washington Red
Raspberry Commission
Cherries
California
Cherry Commission
Cherry Marketing Institute
Cranberries
Cape Cod
Cranberry Growers' Association
Maine Cranberry Growers'
Association
Washington Cranberry Commission
General - United States
California
Tree Fruit Agreement
Fresh Produce Association of the
Americas
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers'
Association
Michigan State Horticultural
Society
Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Association
New England Produce Council
Northwest Horticultural Council
Northwest Berry and Grape
Information Network
Northwest Center for Small
Fruits Research
Prairie Fruit Growers Association
Texas Produce
Association
United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Association
Washington State Fruit Commission
Washington State Horticultural
Association
General - International
Canadian
Horticulture Council
Canadian Produce Marketing
Association
Fruit Growers Society of Alberta
Histoire naturelle des fraisiers
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers'
Association
Ontario Produce Marketing
Association
Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Ltd.
Resources
Agricultural Marketing
Resource Center (USDA)
Cornell Fruit
Resources - Your gateway to information at Cornell University, the New
York State Agricultural Experiment Station & related programs.
http://www.hightunnels.org -- This website is part of a USDA-sponsored
project that is testing and promoting high tunnel systems in the Central
Great Plains.
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.ncat.org/horticultural.html
New England Small Farm
Institute -- A private non-profit organization supporting beginning
farmers and sustainable small scale agriculture throughout New England.
North Carolina Berry Agent
Pesticide.net
The Rodale Institute
Southern Region Small
Fruit Consortium
The California
Strawberry Commission
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