Strawberry

Economics and Marketing

One of the challenges currently facing the strawberry industry is marketing. Strawberries have traditionally been marketed on a Pick-Your-Own (PYO) basis in Manitoba but this market is becoming saturated in some areas of the province. It is estimated that 4 acres of strawberries require 1,400 customer sales, or participation by 20 to 30 per cent of all households living within a primary trade area of 10,000 people (Courter 1982). To estimate your trade area, enclose an area within a 32km radius of your farm. Approximately 75 per cent of all customers live within this area.

A detailed plan is recommended when budgeting for capital expenditures and for the annual operating costs. (See Guidelines for Estimating Strawberry Production Costs 2003) (PDF 750KB). Typically fields are kept in production for about three or four years.