Rosborough, J. F.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-457Tips for Beginners In Vegetable marketingJ. F. RosboroughExtension Horticultural Marketing SpecialistThe Texas A. & M. College SystemAS A FARMER, you need to decide what cropyou can grow to receive the greatest returns.Vegetables generally are considered as high-in-come crops; however, the following points firstshould be studied carefully:• Can you grow one or more vegetables andmeet heavy competition from other areas inmarket channels?Can the harvest period be so timed that othersections are not flooding the market with thesame product? Does the area have the rightsoil, climate and water conditions to producesatisfactory yields of high-quality vegetables?This is needed if the products are placed on acompetitive basis with products from other areas.The distance to consuming centers also is im-portant because transportation and possibly re-frigeration are relatively costly.• Is adequate seasonal labor available?Most vegetables require more labor than dofield crops. Some vegetables, such as Irish po-tatoes or spinach can be harvested mechanically,but most of them require large numbers oflaborers to harvest by hand.• Can you provide adequate volume to at-tract buyers?You may want to JOIn a community groupwhich can ship at least two cars per day at firstand expand from that point. To insure vol-ume., plant 1,500 to 2,000 acres. Crops such aswatermelons, tomatoes, onions, Irish potatoes,cabbage and carrots vary in number of acresrequired for volume shipments, if planted alone.For a mixed vegetable shipping operation, youwill need 400 to 500 acres per crop; the totalaverage should be at least 2,000 acres.• W ill you sell your own products or hiresomeone to do the selling?Most new organizations need a person withselling experience as a manager to supervisethe packing and selling operations. With someoperations, both a packing shed foreman and anoffice salesman are advantageous. Managerscan be paid on a salary and commission basisfor the duration of the packing and selling peri-ods. Employment of a manager on a 12 month'sbasis when the packing and shipping seasonlasts only 60 to 90 days may be impractical.1£ you own your own packing shed and equip-ment, it may be advisable for you to let anestablished distributing firm buy your productsdirect or sell them on a commission basis. Com-missions usually range from 5 to 10 percent ofthe gross sales.• What facilities for packing and gradingare available?At the start you may find it more profitableto rent a temporary building and rent or buyused packing equipment. After you becomeestablished and your annual income is deter-mined, permanent facilities may be advisable.You may want to contract buyers with theirown packing equipment to buy the vegetableson a day-to-day basis.• Are you interested enough to continue inthe business for 3 or more years, thus becomingestablished in market channels?Vegetable prices vary from year to year. Thefirst year's operation might well be one of lowprices.• Are you willing to learn the business andkeep up with new trends?An organization composed of members whoare willing to stay with the business when itwould be easier to drop out has more chance ofbecoming established.• W ill you discipline yourself to marketonly the highest quality products under theirbrand names and accept lower prices for lowergrades?Your possibilities for succeeding in a newvegetable operation depend on several factors.1. Make a study of the entire situation coveringat least one growing season before you make anymove toward entering vegetable production andmarketing. 2. Test plantings will help you indetermining the best crops to plant. 3. Com-pare the results of test plantings in other locali-ties from which you would expect competitionon the market.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and HomeEconomics, The Texas A. & M. College System andUnited States Department of Agriculture cooperating.Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress ofMay 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.IOM-9-59

Tips for Beginners in Vegetable Marketing.

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Tips for Beginners in Vegetable Marketing.

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Tips for Beginners in Vegetable Marketing.

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Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M Repository