Wild Blueberry Business Opportunity
Recently we here at FAW were contacted by Kellys' Wild Blueberry Farm about a farm business opportunity that's too exciting not to share! If you've ever thought about adding soft fruits or value-added products to your roster of market goods, then please see the message below from Roger Kelly.
The fruit from a 3.5 acre stand of managed wild blueberries on private land near Maynooth, Ontario will be available to purchase as a standing crop for the 2015 cropping season.The planting is a mixture of seedling blocks as well as rows of a number of different cultivars of the wild lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium. It has been in production since 1986. Reliable yields are achieved by providing winter protection in parts of the planting, spring frost control with overhead sprinklers, and drought control through irrigation in summer. The planting is essentially weed free with mowed pathways throughout for picking access. The owners will provide the maintenance of the crop including weed, frost and drought control as well as fertility management in exchange for an annual fee. The purchaser of the fruit crop would handle all aspects of the harvesting and sale of the crop. The purchaser would assume all liability associated with harvest and sales. Mechanical harvesting of the fruit is not feasible due to the dense growth and fruiting habit of the plants. Berries must be picked by hand. Harvest is now on at Kellys’ Wild Blueberry Farm during the month of August, 2014. This can provide an opportunity to view the production potential of the crop, current harvesting methods, and facilities that would be available for a potential purchaser of the fruit in 2015.
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