File:Allen's book of berries for 1939 (1939) (17951241155).jpg

Title: Allen's book of berries for 1939
Identifier: allensbookofberr19alle_23 (find matches)
Year: 1939 (1930s)
Authors: Allen Co. (Salisbury, Md. ); Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
Subjects: Nurseries (Horticulture) Maryland Salisbury Catalogs; Nursery stock Maryland Salisbury Catalogs; Strawberries Maryland Salisbury Catalogs
Publisher: Salisbury, Md. : Allen Co.
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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Picking Pointers Selling the Berries Careful picking will pay. Careless picking is costly. Retain the full value of your berries by making sure of careful picking and handling. Avoid green sides and tips by selecting varieties that ripen evenly and without green tips. Have the pickers discard undersized berries and those which have soft or rotten spots (especially after a heavy rain). Dirty or gritty berries (after rains) can be largely avoided by using a mulch which is even more effective if plants have been spaced so the mulch can be worked down between the plants. Berries look best in the package when the caps are left on and from one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch of stem is left. Bruising and mashing berries detract from their value and can be avoided by careful picking and handling. Well-filled packages not only make the buyer feel that he is getting his money's worth (even at a higher price) but they actually make the berries show up better. After being picked berries should be carried to the packing shed in a relatively short time. One hour's exposure in the hot sunshine will sometimes ruin an otherwise fancy quart of berries. In packing, face the berries some if you must but not too much, as a reputation for an honest pack will help you sell on any kind of a market. Clean, bright packages will make your fruit more attractive to the buyer than dirty, soiled pack- ages. Improved types of crates which do not cut and bruise the berries as much are being developed. If available it may pay you to try them out. Pick All That Are Ready. If this is not done soft berries like Aberdeen may be over-ripe or rotten by the next picking; others, like Fairfax, tend to get dark even though they remain solid. Careful attention to this point will help keep up the grade of berries throughout the season. Wholesale Produce Markets. Hundreds of car- loads and truckloads of berries are sold in the produce markets in large towns and cities. The outlet in these markets is very large. Usually canners or juice men clean up each day's shipments so there is little hold- over. Unlike many other crops, strawberries must be sold promptly. Peak shipments of one week cannot be held over to glut the market a week later. Prices for the best fruit even in low priced years are usually high enough to allow a good margin of profit. Farmers Markets. Many towns and cities operate public markets. In these a farmer can rent a stall or booth. In some cases it is only space at the curb for wagon or truck. At these markets farmers sell large quantities of berries and other produce, just their own or for a group of other growers. A brand or label will be well worth while if your fruit is of good quality and there is enough of it to make an impression on the market. This is true for farmers markets as well as wholesale produce markets in the city. Local Sales. These are made to many different kinds of buyers—hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals and institutions of various kinds. A busi- ness of this kind requires some time to develop but is usually a profitable outlet when once established. Roadside Markets. If on or near a well-traveled highway try a roadside market. Many growers are successfully disposing of their crops of strawberries as well as other things by this method. You will be de- lighted, as we were, by the results even the first year. Advertising. Signs at the farm or notices in local papers will be a big help in selling fruit to local buyers. We have reports from growers who tell us that one small ad has brought enough buyers to their farm to dispose of the whole crop. It will not cost much and should yield big returns. They taste like more. If you are growing high quality berries like Fairfax, Dorsett, Northstar, and others, give the buyer a taste. It's the surest way to make a sale.
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