Which berry is best suited for growing for sale?

Relevance

Strawberries as a business always remain relevant. The most profitable business will be if you sell in winter. It is after the onset of cold weather that the lack of tasty berries is felt most of all, and stores often offer only frozen products. It is not difficult to grow strawberries all year round. The main thing is to study the technology in advance. Competition also decreases in winter.

The matter is relevant due to the constant increase in demand for berries. The main thing is to approach its organization responsibly.

Honey with milk

Having heard for the first time that the agronomist was going to water the raspberries with a mixture of milk and honey, Elena Viktorovna protested:

– Alexander Vladimirovich, what kind of grandma’s recipes are these? “No,” says Kiselyov, “we will do it this way!” I was afraid that there would be a midge. Well, it’s sweet and sticky. Does not start. For three years we have been spraying with this mixture (to make it cheaper - whey with honey; if there is no whey, we replace it with milk diluted with water), indeed, nothing starts: neither moths, nor meadow moths, nor any other insects.

But “grandmother’s insecticides” do not scare bees. Raspberry growers started a small apiary specifically to pollinate the berry garden. Well, raspberry honey is an exclusive delicacy.

On the way from the house to the field, they are separated by a farm yard, I wonder if the owners are going to, for example, dry raspberries. It turns out that Elena Viktorovna had already considered this option. And moreover, he is considering the possibility of drying tomatoes, because the Bagaevites have always been renowned vegetable growers, which means the raw material base is nearby. She is ready to provide people with seeds of the required variety. All further development, according to the entrepreneur, should be extensive. So, he plans to cover three hectares with booths and install a greenhouse so that raspberries can be grown not seasonally, from May to October, but all year round. I wouldn't mind organizing a cooperative. Fortunately, there is enough knowledge and experience for this.

Sorted raspberries are ready to be sent to customers

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing in a greenhouse?

It is much easier to grow in a greenhouse than in open ground. Strawberry business in a greenhouse has the following advantages:

• the ability to grow strawberries all year round;
• no influence of weather;
• the need for a minimum amount of land;
• the ability to recoup costs in 1 season;
• the possibility of cooperation with large stores;
• profitability up to 100%.

If you want to use technology to grow strawberries in a greenhouse every year, then you need to take into account that construction costs will be several times higher than when using soil. The disadvantages include the need for artificial pollination of the crop. Also, the taste cannot compare with summer berries grown under the sun. Additionally, an artificial increase in daylight hours will be required.

Step-by-step production plan

Before installing the greenhouse and starting production, draw up a detailed action plan. Reflect in it all the stages that you have to carry out to produce and sell berries.

A plot of 6 acres is suitable for organizing a business. It is enough to allocate 50 square meters for a greenhouse. m., on 100 square meters you can grow strawberries in open ground.

Let's consider each point of the production plan in detail.

Step 1. Preparation and execution of documents

To sell strawberries to supermarkets and hand them over to wholesale companies, you need to register an individual entrepreneur. Select OKVED code: 01.13.21. It is responsible for the cultivation of berries and fruit crops. This activity relates to agriculture. Complete the Unified Agricultural Tax (USTA). His rate is 6% of profit.

To register as an individual entrepreneur you will need:

• application for registration;
• photocopy of all pages of the passport;
• receipt of payment of the state fee for consideration of your application.

You can provide documents for registration in person or by mail.

Step 2. Installation of the greenhouse

A practical and reliable option is to install a polycarbonate greenhouse on a metal frame. The size and number of greenhouses depends on the scale of production.

It is rational to start with the construction of one greenhouse. To save money, build it yourself. There are many ready-made installation diagrams on the Internet. Choose one of them and adapt it to your project. Don't forget the foundation. It serves as the basis for the structure, protects against pests and freezing.

Step 3. Install the necessary equipment

Is the greenhouse installed? Proceed with installation of equipment.

To grow strawberries year-round you need:

• an irrigation system or a hydroponic system if you are using Dutch soilless growing technology;
• shelving to increase the usable area of ​​the room and combine different growing technologies;
• lighting;
• heating;
• ventilation system.

At first, you can water the plants manually with a hose. This is the most economical option. For a small greenhouse, a homemade drip irrigation system is suitable.

Another option for saving money at the start is using solar heating. We are not talking about solar panels, but about improvised means that accumulate heat. With them you will provide plants with heat and stabilize the temperature in the room.

Step 4. Selection and purchase of seedlings

At this stage you need good theoretical preparation. Explore agricultural forums, chat with those who have already succeeded in growing strawberries. For year-round cultivation, different varieties are needed: early, mid-season, late.

The most popular varieties: Honey, Darenka, Victoria, Sonata, Rusanovskaya, Octave, Alba.

Buy seedlings from those who professionally grow strawberries. These are greenhouse complexes and nurseries. Take several varieties to get to know their characteristics. Choose those that ripen faster and bear fruit longer.

Step 5. Pollination and berry care

The main principles of berry care are the creation of optimal conditions of humidity, light, and temperature. Strawberries do not like overflow, so it is better to water them using the drip method. Along with water, additional feed is introduced through a drip system. This irrigation system is convenient for greenhouse production and open ground.

In open ground, flowers are pollinated by wind and insects. In greenhouse conditions, pollen is moved using fans. The second way is to transfer it from flower to flower with a soft brush. Flowers are pollinated by hand only on small plantations.

Plant flowering is affected by light. During the flowering period, plants need more light and warmth.

The video will tell you in detail about planting berries in greenhouse conditions, lighting and watering:

Greenhouses

Glass, film, and polycarbonate buildings are suitable for the strawberry business. Shelves made of metal profiles must be installed inside. Trays for growing berries are installed on them. A drip irrigation device is required.

An excellent option in a greenhouse is hydroponics planting. Thanks to this, strawberries or strawberries receive the greatest amount of nutrition. No watering is required and fertilization is minimal. Profitability is high. Despite the large expenses for electricity, the investment will quickly pay off.

The required conditions must be met in the greenhouse. This is one of the disadvantages of using greenhouses. The microclimate must be as follows:

• temperature 22-25 degrees;
• humidity up to 80%;
• moderate ventilation;
• daylight hours 14 hours a day.

If these indicators are observed, growing berries will not be difficult.

Raspberry loves women's hands

“Now I understand what a headache I’ve created for myself,” the hostess jokes, because in reality she thinks: “The business is very beautiful.” Of course, growing and picking raspberries is for me, it suits my aesthetic needs, I like both the berry itself and this work. I find pleasure in communication. For example, today I have a hundred people working in my field. I know almost everyone. We've been together for three years. To avoid emergency situations and force majeure situations, we bring two permanent teams from Rostov and Bagaevka. And local villagers come out when they can. The schedule suitable for women is from five to ten in the morning. The children are on vacation, by the time they wake up, the mothers are already at home, and they have the whole day ahead of them.

Every child dreams of skimming the foam from jam. For Tamara Cebanu it's just work

Everyone is satisfied with the payment: time-based - 100 rubles per hour, piecework - 50 rubles per kilogram. Calculation is daily. Picking raspberries is specific work. It’s not like leaving tomatoes or potatoes in a bucket, you have to get used to it. Unlike Europe or Belarus, for example, our climate is not so suitable for raspberries. Due to low humidity and heat, the berry dries to the receptacle and must be picked very carefully. Due to baking, part of the harvest loses its grade and is only suitable for processing. But this is just all right.

While still developing her business, Elena Shevchenko thought through the main thing - where and how to sell what she grew. Selected berries are sold mainly in Rostov. Regular customers know in advance which site the farm vehicle will arrive at. Large quantities are delivered directly to the customer’s home. And once a month the car leaves for Moscow. Almost all the jam is sent to the capital. And if growing and picking raspberries is the mother’s concern, then the processing workshop is in Yulia, and Aya, despite the fact that she is on maternity leave, manages to maintain Instagram and work on the company’s design projects. The male half is also involved: Vasily Vasilyevich, Aya’s husband Ilya Artemenkov, and even their nine-month-old son played a role in the family business. The brand “Lyoshkino Homemade Jam” is in honor of him.

But in fact, Donna Malina gave work to hundreds of rural residents of the area. The farm buys apricots from the population, and buys strawberries from a farmer from a neighboring farm in order to prepare that very original jam. In addition to seasonal workers, five permanent employees work in the peasant farm.

– Igor Bolitov is a driver, a warehouse manager, and a jack of all trades. Two assistant guards - God sent them to me,” the businesswoman lists. By the way she introduces the team in absentia, her attitude towards people becomes clear. And how he values ​​the agronomist!

Strawberries in open ground

Strawberries in open ground are a seasonal business. In winter, making a profit will be impossible. The main advantage of this idea is low costs. But at the same time, you will have to constantly direct your efforts to protect the bushes from drought, heavy rains and other unpleasant weather conditions.

You will have to organize a good mulch layer. A business plan for strawberries in open ground involves investments that are approximately 2 times less than when using a greenhouse.

Your own business will be profitable if the variety for cultivation has been selected correctly. At first, you can earn money by growing strawberries in the yard near your house. In the future, you can scale your own business. When selecting varieties, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the specific region in which the business is planned to be launched. A greenhouse is definitely used if the climate is cold, for example, in Siberia.

The profitable part of the strawberry business

Our plantation of 120 sq. m. contains 80 sq. m. usable area (the rest is passages). 1 sq. m. per month will be able to produce 4.5 kg of strawberries. Therefore, per month you will have 360 ​​kg of strawberries. The average cost of a kilogram of strawberries is 450 – 500 rubles (we only take into account the cold season of the year).

Thus, with 360 kg of strawberries at 450-500 rubles, we will have 162,000 - 180,000 rubles monthly.

The payback period for the initial costs is 2-3 months, the period from the start of planting to the first harvest is 2-4 months, so after an average of six months of growing strawberries for sale, you can ensure absolute financial independence.

Good luck with your strawberry growing business!

Growing strawberries hydroponically

Hydroponics is a special solution that makes it easier to grow crops. Thanks to it, you can get delicious fruits all year round. The method involves supplying the nutrient mixture directly to the bushes. This can happen by drip, deep-sea, intermittent flooding or aeroponics.

Before you make money, you need to assemble the equipment yourself or buy it in a specialized store. You will need a pump, hoses, and an electrical network.

Homemade strawberries grown hydroponically have a high survival rate. This is a significant advantage. Additionally, the plants are actively developing. Convenient care. There is no need for additional fertilizing. No loosening or cleaning is required. This is an ideal option for beginners.

We waited for the harvest: how much does a meter of strawberries cost?

We talked about household chemicals - sorry, we talked about fertilizers and protective equipment above. We won't take it into account. About the covering material - is there enough, is it worn out - even if it is enough for 2-3 years, but 2 rolls are needed. We’ll buy one in the year of planting to differentiate costs and minimize risks - in case we change our minds about suffering with agribusiness, the second - in the second year. We will cover with this material both in winter and spring. And on the third, when you have to arrange the sockets, you will still need it, don’t worry. Pots for seedlings - in case you want to continue a good cause, for starting your own planting material and saving hard-earned money. they will come in handy. Seedlings in pots as planting material are much more valuable with an open root system.

Waiting for a miracle or the second year

Are you bored again? Then let's get down to the main thing - harvesting. You will need: Containers (plastic containers, blisters, glasses for retail and others). And also - the same baskets, baskets made of simple veneer - only they are more expensive than plastic. You shouldn’t skimp on capacity: the less containers we fill for the fresh market, the more intact the product, the less losses. Europeans are smart: they pack almost 100 g for supermarkets. And we are baskets and baskets, broad is the Slavic soul! Jokes aside: the collection container should not exceed 2 kg - bring compote. Delicious, but only you need it. Or maybe it’s not even necessary - because it’s tasteless.

The container will cost at least 20-25 USD. - this is really not enough, considering the area planted with strawberries.

Stop, whoever is coming, we protect what has been grown

As you might guess, it’s not just spider bugs that can encroach on your harvest. Moreover, if your plantation is far from the estate, or even in an open field outside the city. The latter is very risky, since even in the village there will be individuals who do not hesitate to profit from other people’s goods. This point should not be ignored: strengthening the fence, wire, installing an alarm system - I went through all this from my own experience.

Who would have thought that a 70-year-old neighbor would deftly bend under two rows of a stretched homemade signal and harvest our harvest with enviable speed? No, I didn’t even say anything to her - a couple of kilograms didn’t make me poor, and I had to treat her, although people are not poor, children and grandchildren come in such cars - oh, right. But in the event of an invasion by a dysfunctional family living on the outskirts of our dacha village, I had to involve my father as an honored electrician in the matter: he finally got it right.

And there are also video cameras - to see and intimidate potential thieves and other delights of civilization. If we are ready to include them in the budget for commercial strawberry growing, then we add them to our list of expenses.

As a result, modest attempts to protect the territory from invasion will cost from 50 USD. up to 250 – it all depends on your fantasies. I’ll take a modest minimum - for the wire and connection of the alarm system, lighting - lanterns and other Chinese things.

Don’t think down on implementers: when the time comes, you will go yourself. Maybe…

Sales: if you grow strawberries for the fresh market, even with 10 acres you will need lightning-fast sales speed. Lightning fast means fast: a perishable product will not wait. Do you otherwise have refrigerated, stationary circulation refrigeration units? Is a refrigerated minibus good for business - both transportation and storage - are you ready to buy it in case you expand your strawberry fields?

Dutch technology

The Dutch method involves growing berries in several layers. At the initial stages, 10 m2 is enough. You can get about 300 kg of fruit from them. The main point is that the soil needs to be replaced with bags. They provide nutrition and hydration. Growing bushes using this method is not financially expensive. There is no need to rent an additional plot of land. Typically, the technology is used in a greenhouse.

What berries are best grown in Russian climatic conditions in summer and winter?

To better understand what berries to grow on a plot on an industrial scale, it is important to take into account the state of the market and climatic conditions in your area. The main risks in the berry business are the unpredictability of weather conditions and the human factor.

With a properly structured business, its profitability can reach 40-300% . And, conversely, if you underestimate the specifics of growing berries, you can completely lose money.

Finnish technology

The main condition for growing using Finnish technology is the presence of a special material (mulch layer). It accelerates the ripening of berries. Additionally, the taste of the fruit is improved.

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The mulch layer ensures uniform heating of the soil. The optimal level of humidity is maintained. The soil does not stain the berries, which preserves their presentability.

Finnish technology can be used both in open ground and in a greenhouse. The berries will take about 7-8 weeks to ripen. The technology usually uses a special black film. The main disadvantage is the accumulation of condensate. Because of this, additional heating will be required.

Investments and return on business

The amount of expenses that an entrepreneur expects at the organization stage will differ depending on the chosen production technology and planned volumes. The expected expense items are:

• Registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC;
• Land lease;
• Construction of a growing room;
• Purchase of equipment;
• Purchase of seeds, seedlings, fertilizers;
• Purchase of packaging materials.

In general, the range of planned expenses can be from 1 to 10 million rubles. As statistics show, the payback period with an average monthly income of 200 thousand - 1 million rubles ranges from 1 year to 5 years.

The best varieties

When organizing production, you need to choose the best varieties that rarely get sick and survive under various conditions. Their self-sufficiency is high.

Remontant varieties of strawberries

Remontant strawberries are those that are capable of bearing fruit several times per season. Thanks to such bushes, a home business will quickly pay off. Remontant strawberries can produce crops both constantly and in waves.

The most popular varieties:

1. Lyubava. The fruits are juicy and large. By weight, one berry can grow up to 25-30 g. There is a light strawberry aroma.
2. Elizabeth – 2. An excellent option for a temperate climate.
3. Countess. This is a beardless variety.

All subspecies have both their advantages and disadvantages.

Early varieties

You can start a business with early varieties. Already at the end of spring you can harvest the first harvest. Both domestic and foreign varieties are popular. Popular varieties include:

1. Alba. The first harvest can be harvested in mid-May. The berries are sweet with a slight sourness.
2. Kama. The bushes are compact. Ripening occurs in mid-May. From one bush you can collect up to 1 kg.
3. Marvelous. The berries are oblong. The pulp is sweet and vaguely resembles strawberries.

Early varieties will produce a good harvest only with proper care.

Large-fruited varieties

If you want to open a profitable strawberry business, then it is better to choose large-fruited varieties. They are the most popular among buyers. The best large-fruited varieties include:

1. Roxana. An excellent option for the Urals and Siberia.
2. Elsanta. The berries can grow up to 60 g each.
3. Marshmallow. Variety Grown in the southern regions.

The main thing is to follow the breeder’s recommendations when growing.

First harvest for sale and first profit

By the time berry sales began, the bushes were 5 years old. They produced consistently high yields.

So, from 2 acres of raspberries it was possible to collect at least 50 kg of berries, and 20 currant bushes yielded 3 kg each (out of 25 bushes, 20 were saved, the rest died).

The numbers are approximate - the yield depends on weather conditions, varieties, plant age, and agricultural technology.

In mid-June I began to harvest my first raspberry harvest. The collection period lasted for a month. Currants ripen by the beginning of July, and harvesting must be done within 2 weeks.

It turns out that raspberries can be square. And the age of the bush is to blame: the plants lose varietal characteristics.

I collected the harvest in small plastic buckets and sold it almost every day at the local market. The prices were set according to the market average:

• 1 kg of raspberries – 300 rubles/kg;
• 1 kg of currants – 250 rub./kg.

The main disadvantage in trading berries is short-term storage, the need to sell on the day of collection.

Buyers quickly picked up the berries, and were especially willing to buy raspberries. Trade was brisk on weekends and holidays. These days I didn’t have to stand behind the counter for more than 2 hours a day.

During the first season I managed to collect 70 kg of currants and 60 kg of raspberries. I earned about 35,000 rubles from the sale!

For a pensioner living on penny state payments, the amount is impressive. At a minimum, it covered the year's utility costs.

This is interesting: How to earn 120,000 rubles in 30 days from strawberries and blueberries? The true story of a rural teacher.

Difficulties of berry affairs

I can't say that growing and selling berries is an easy task. I'll tell you briefly about the difficulties I encountered.

There will be a lot of raspberries! The key to productivity is proper agricultural technology.

• for an elderly person this is hard physical labor (digging the earth, applying fertilizers, pruning, transporting the crop to the place of sale);
• caring for bushes requires knowledge, incl. practical;
• low yields are possible due to bad weather conditions;
• there may be problems with timely sales;
• impossibility of storing fresh berries.

Red currants are good: tasty, healthy. And profitable!

For beginners planning to grow berry bushes, I want to give 5 simple but valuable tips.

1. Expand your knowledge, read literature. Do not hesitate to ask questions to experienced people: theory is good, knowledge from practitioners is better.
2. Do not undertake large volumes of planting without knowledge of agricultural technology and without the possibility of marketing.
3. Don't do things alone: ​​find helpers;
4. Don’t leave things to chance: take care of your plants in a timely manner;
5. Arm yourself with patience: you shouldn’t count on quick profits in this business.

Starting a business

The first thing you need to start with is drawing up a business plan. Without it, it’s better not to start opening a personal business. The plan must include calculations of initial investments, as well as approximate earnings, characteristics of competitors, present risks and opportunities, as well as points of sale. All this will help in organizing a profitable business.

Sales Features

Marketing routes directly depend on the number of strawberries grown. You need to understand that the berry very quickly loses its appearance, so it needs to be sold as quickly as possible.

Main sales routes:

• independent sale at the nearest market;
• sales to supermarkets, shops, catering establishments;
• sale to resellers.

The most profitable option is independent implementation. When reselling, the entrepreneur loses a lot of money. But at the same time, independent implementation is an ideal option only for a small amount of harvest. If it is significant, then it is better to cooperate with resellers and large organizations. Otherwise, there is a risk that the entire harvest will be lost before sale. This must be taken into account when figuring out how to open your own business and how much you can earn from it.

Another option is selling finished products. You can process strawberries into jam, marmalade, juices, etc. However, in this case, additional costs will be required for the organization of this stage and support personnel.

Which form of business should you choose?

The table below provides an analysis of the various forms of running a greenhouse business.

If you have no entrepreneurial experience, it is recommended to register your business as a private household plot and start selling in small quantities; this will allow you to set up all production and business processes and determine the main sales channels. When increasing production volumes, attracting additional financing (agricultural loans), or organizing your own point of sale, registration as an individual entrepreneur is required.

The optimal tax system for producers of agricultural products is the Unified Agricultural Tax (USAT).

Tax rate – 6%

The Unified Agricultural Tax is abolished when the share of agricultural production is less than 70% and the OSNO (general taxation system) is applied to the manufacturer.

Video lesson “Unified Agricultural Tax”

Possible problems in business

Despite the high profitability of the business, it has a large number of risks and problems. In winter, heating must be provided in the greenhouse, otherwise the entire crop will be destroyed. This can also happen if cultivation technologies are not followed.

The main competitors are foreign suppliers. The problem is easy to solve. It is enough to look for sales channels where buyers are interested in natural products, for example, kindergartens, cafes, restaurants.

There is a risk of increased energy costs. In a greenhouse in winter, a large amount of money will be spent on heating. The solution to the problem may be the use of solar panels.

Possible problems also include diseases, parasites, and weather conditions. All this can reduce yields.

The strawberry business will be profitable only with the right approach.