BERRY REVOLUTION REWARDING RETURN SMART FINANCIAL SIDE BUSINESS|HUSTLE
- Jeannette
- Jul 23
- 6 min read
JUMP TO
FRESH BERRY BLUEPRINT FOR BEGINNERS - SMALL-SCALE SIDE BUSINESS|HUSTLE
PRICING & PREPARATORY WORK INTRODUCTION
DECIDE WHAT FRESH BERRIES ARE MOST PROFITABLE FOR YOU & POPULAR ESPECIALLY IN YOUR LOCAL AREA.
According to Author Gene Logsdon, his book states, selling Fresh Berries harvested from 1 acre can turn the following profit sold from a small road side stand:
Home Grown Consumption of 2 Quarts of Organic Berries cost Gene and his family a total of at least $14 dollars of Plants and a bit of labor. This same amount of Berries if consumed and purchased from a local Supermarket is a total value of around $75 dollars.
He also speaks of harvesting these Berries consumed, only taking15 minutes of his time, netting his family $2.80 cents. Gene writes, this turnaround translates to $11.20 an hour.
The above calculations from Gene Logsdon states one can Gross $2,500 dollars with some know-how and no expensive machinery.
SIDE BUSINESS | SIDE HUSTLE- YOU DECIDE
BOTH TERMS AT TIMES ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY, HOWEVER, THERE IS A SLIGHT BIT OF A DIFFERENCE:
Side Business may lead towards the singular stream of income.
Side Hustle maintains a primary source of income, as well as allowing an informal, additional stream of income.
Side Business requires focus, more of a commitment, eventually entrepreneurship.
Side Hustle rests on flexibility, less of a commitment and enjoyment.
Side Business is structured formally with government standards & regulations.
Side Hustle is structured less formally with some having fewer direct regulations.
DID I GET YOUR ATTENTION?
THEN CONTINUE RECEIVING REWARDING INFORMATION
SUCCESSFUL SUPERFOOD BERRY SMALL-SCALE SELECTION
HIGH-DEMAND VARIETIES
Blueberries
Blackberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
SUCCESSFUL SUPERFOOD SPECIALTY BERRY VARIETIES SELECTION
Aronia Berries
Black Currants
Elderberries
Goji Berries
Gooseberries
Pomegranates
DETERMINE HOW MANY & WHAT OF THE FOLLOWING YOU MUST PURCHASE FROM A NURSERY & GROW FOR A DESIRED FINANCIAL OUTCOME:
Berry Bushes or Potted Plants or Bare-Root Stock or Plugs and Liners or Flats or Half-Flats.
TIMING DISCIPLINES IS KEY FOR FIRST TIME GROWERS
Consistent Marketing Practices is a must for Seed time and Harvest success.
Yearly Yield Evaluation, Documentation and Harvest Month Prediction is extremely important.
Profitable Months secured prior is key for Yearly Gross Income Estimation.
Always account for unexpected price drops, due to various reasons, such as change in weather patterns.
Use good judgement for predicting local market prices including marketing costs and the cost of unsold product.
NURSERIES
CHOOSE CERTIFIED ORGANIC & CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
Research the nurseries reliability, reputation and return policy.
Note the shipping and arrival dates for your specific time zone.
Understand planting requirements prior.
It is critically important to have established all the necessities to support thriving Berries before they arrive.
Carefully and consistently examine the plants initial health throughout the month.
ESTIMATES OF PROFITABILITY
MARKETING CHANNEL COSTS & PRODUCTION COSTS ARE A FEW LISTED:
Upfront Costs [The initial, one-time expenses required before starting your Berry Side Business|Hustle].
Overhead expenses or indirect costs essentially are expenses necessary for the overall functioning of your Side Business or Side Hustle.
Packaging: labels, containers and sizes.
Travel expenses if any, labor, staffing needs and equipment as it expands, must all be incurred when determining overall progressive profit.
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS - CONSIDERATION & CARE
Discover Potential Customers and the unfulfilled demands.
Important to note, a marketing avenue for Small-Scale Growers is called: Direct-to-Consumer sales contact - DTC.
Understand consumer behavior to better equip yourself.
Connect with your customers asking to commit purchasing from you if you produce more next season.
Developing a Loyal Following is crucial for a continued stream of income.
Honesty is the Best Policy, therefore, Trusted Growers reap Loyal Customers.
DTC- DIRECT-TO-CUSTOMER SALES CONTACT - MARKETING CHANNELS
Access Availability Dates, Locations and Register for Strategic Marketing tools for Public Awareness
FARMERS MARKETS - CURB MARKETS - ROADSIDE STAND MARKETS ARE SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON YOUR NEEDS & PREFERENCES DETAILING LISTS OF ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES FOR EACH
Farmers Markets
Curb Markets
Roadside Stand Markets
Pick-your-own or U-pick Markets
CSA - Community-supported agriculture or Subscription farming
Online Sales
Family & Friends Inner Circle Market
Neighborhood & Work Environment Market
Front Porch
Local Independent Businesses: Mom & Pop Restaurants - Cafes - Bakeries
PREDETERMINED ANSWERS IS KEY
Identify and Investigate what consumers are currently paying for your product determined by your target audience, area of residence, and status.
Research Customer Demographics collected by the U.S. Census Bureau found on census.gov.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
How much quantity will my customer initially purchase?
How often will my customer purchase throughout the season or year?
Is my price to quality a fair price in their perspective?
COMPETITORS - DIFFERENCE & DESIGN
Search potential competitors and their local locations and determine present demand for success.
What potential competitors provide is important to know.
Learn the success and failures of your competitors to enhance and educate you prior to launch.
Prioritize Presentation Differentiation advertising why your product is a better option for consumption.
Ask yourself, what better quality and difference will draw some of the market away from my competition?
Invest in workshops, classes, training courses that will elevate your skills and tools.
Continued experience, expert mentoring, seminars, higher education, is a valuable asset in achieving ongoing success.
An established resume is rewarding for you, your customer and company.
SAFE FOOD SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED
Customers value healthy fruit, an honesty policy, responsibility practices and a level of quality of character aimed towards [GAPs]Good Agricultural Practices & [GHPs]Good Handling Practices.
Voluntary programs & protocols taught can be sourced from www.ams.usda.gov
It is essential to first master implementing food safety plans to ensure a safer food system streamed into the public.
HARVESTING & STORAGE PRESERVATION
Involves details such as when, why, what, how to minimize damaging and maximize appeal.
Every step is significant to maintain quality, prevent crushing and bruising of the Berries.
Rapid Cooling - Temperature - Humidity - Storage Duration are all key players for post-harvesting.
FREEZE DRIED BERRY BLUEPRINT FOR BEGINNERS
Is another option to invest in, reaping a highly successful Side Business|Hustle operation.
Freeze-dried Berries is a food preservation method allowing nearly all of the nutrients to remain after the process.
The Berries can last up to 25 years in flavor and freshness.
Small Pro Freeze Dryer can start at around $1,795 minimum. - www.harvestright.com
PROCESSED BERRIES & REGULATIONS
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is an official United States government website.
If you choose to no longer sell Fresh Berries, another category is called Processed Berries of which calls for government standards and regulations.
RESEARCH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Regulations vary by state and even county to county in acquiring a food processing license for example.
It is important to determine the specific requirements for each situation you are about to invest time and money into.
Even if a license is not required, you may still need to register your food operation.
Comply with labeling & packaging requirements.
Safe food practices.
Liability Insurance is also a wise option for protection.
INTENTIONAL & DETERMINATION
Small-Scale Growers must first decide if they are ready to initially be the grower, packer and wholesaler.
First rule of success is counting the cost prior to planting.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
As time passes, and you are faithful with your little garden, get ready to graduate to the grandiose in life.
Risk taking is exciting and rich for character development. Shift out of the norm and comfort, strive to believe for the best. This is definitely one of the many streams of income for a secured success to consider.
Overall profitability is an untapped reward and God ability. Hence, whatever product is unsold, compost it or preserve it, share it and consume it for a continued healthier you!
BOOK LINK - Highly Recommended Author Gene Logsdon
Successful Berry Growing
VIDEO LINK - Vibrant Visual & Educational
BrightLearn - Successful Berry Growing: How to Plant, Prune, Pick and Preserve Bush and Vine Fruits by Gene Logsdon
REFERENCES: PennState Extension Article June 20, 2005
Titled: Fruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and
Part-Time Growers
Good Agricultural Practices [GAPs]
Good Handling Practices [GHPs]
Agricultural Marketing Service U.S. Department of Agriculture - Berries for Processing Grade Standards
U.S. Census Bureau
Harvest Right Freeze Dryer
Author Logsdon, Gene - Title Successful Berry Growing: How to Plant, Prune, Pick and Preserve Bush and Vine Fruits The University of Wisconsin Madison Rodale Press, Book Division 1977
Comments