Business Management
Along with a significant investment in time, starting a fruit farm requires sound business management skills. In this section, access information on farm management and budgeting for fruit crops. Find advice on planning and planting an orchard, fruit crop budgeting, crop insurance, and diversification. Information on FSMA regulations, and safety and risk management is also available.
Fruit Farm Management
Fruit trees, as well as small fruits, can be successfully grown in both orchards and small-scale farms. For efficient and profitable production, however, it’s critical to choose a suitable fruit crop, create a business plan, build a strategy, and plan your production budgets.
Take the Orchard Management: Site Planning and Preparation online course to learn more about determining the best tree fruit species for your site, preparing your site before planting, and developing an orchard map. Information is also available for fruit producers interested in reducing farm energy use by focusing on conservation and efficiency.
The Specialty Crop Tours offer additional opportunities for young growers taking over a family operation, developing a new enterprise, or innovating production practices. New, young, and minority farmers may further benefit from the "Models for the Future" on-farm apple demonstration plots. These plots are designed to aid new farmers in experiencing and learning innovative management practices.
Fruit Production Budget
Production budgets are an important part of any successful fruit enterprise. They help lay out the estimates of costs and returns associated with the farm’s production. Fruit enterprise budget tools are typically used to estimate profitability, assist in business planning, and project cash flows.
Fruit growers can find valuable spreadsheet tools for assessing the benefits and costs of sustainable practices in apple farms, strawberry plantings, and more.
Fruit Crop Insurance
The Federal Crop Insurance Program is a program designed to protect growers from yield losses from natural causes. The program is administered by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) within the USDA.
Crop insurance is sold by independent companies; however, it is still overseen and regulated by the FCIC. Producers can access additional information with Penn State Extension resources on crop insurance for fruit plants, including apple trees, pears, peaches, and nectarines.
Orchard Safety and Risk Management
Creating and managing a healthy and safe workplace should be a top priority. In orchards and farms, most fatalities are associated with transportation incidents, including tractor overturns. To prevent serious injuries – as well as costly repairs – it is critical that equipment operators perform a pre-operation check before starting a tractor.
Penn State Extension provides numerous resources on reducing the risk of overturns, preventing serious injury on the farm, and using personal protective equipment. Information on tractor safety best practices in Spanish can be found, as well.
Good Agricultural Practices for Fruit Producers
In fruit production, obtaining proper training and certification is essential. To ensure the safety of the produce, fruit producers should follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). GAPs assist growers in keeping consumers healthy, preventing yield and financial loss, and enhancing business performance.
Food Safety Standards for Orchards
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has set out several science-based food safety standards for growing, harvesting, and packing fruits. FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule, for instance, covers hygiene measures to prevent contamination from ill or injured workers, requirements for visitors, and water quality requirements.
On this page, fruit farm owners and employees can make use of Penn State Extension’s resources on managing a fruit farm, ensuring produce quality, and meeting all food safety regulations. During the FSMA: Produce Grower Certification Training, for instance, growers can learn more about produce safety best practices, including worker health and training, soil amendments, and postharvest handling. FSMA training is also available in Spanish.
- Workshops
$40.00
Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Grower Certification Training
When Multiple Options AvailableLength 8 hoursEvent Format In-PersonFruit and vegetable growers will learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices, and co-management of natural resources and food safety. - News
Farm Workers Relief Payment
Date Posted 5/21/2024Farm employees that worked on a farm during the pandemic may be eligible for additional compensation. - Tools and Apps
Trellis Construction Workbook
This tool will assist growers with the decision making process of determining the cost of two trellis systems. - Articles
Cultural Sensitivity in the Workplace
Cultural sensitivity is a set of skills that enables us to learn about and understand people who are different from ourselves, thereby becoming better able to serve them within their own communities. - Articles
Subscription Boxes for Ag Businesses
Subscription services can work for small and medium-sized businesses. This article describes the types of subscription businesses, advantages and challenges, and other relevant information. - Articles
Cause Marketing Program Strategies
This article describes the key components and additional factors needed to develop a cause marketing program. - Articles
Identificación de mercados para productores latinos de frutas y hortalizas
La creación de relaciones con los clientes constituye un valor fundamental para alcanzar el éxito empresarial. El objetivo es ser visto como un socio, no sólo como otro vendedor de productos. - Tools and Apps
Models for the Future: Strawberry Budget
A spreadsheet tool for assessing cover crops for improving soil health in strawberry plantings. - Tools and Apps
Models for the Future: Winter Squash Production Budget
A spreadsheet tool for assessing cover crops for improving soil health in winter squash plantings. - Tools and Apps
Models for the Future: Tomato Production Budget
A spreadsheet tool for assessing cover crops for improving soil health in tomato plantings. - Articles
Models for the Future: Harvest Valley Farm
Harvest Valley Farms is a fourth generation family farm. The farm is now owned and operated by Larry, Art, and David King. - Articles
Models for the Future: Bedminster Orchard
Bedminster Orchard is located on 16 Acres in Perkasie, Pa and is owned and operated by Brett Saddington. - Articles
Models for the Future: Good Works Farm
Founded in 2011, Good Work Farm feeds 125 families through Community Supported Agriculture Shares (CSA). - Tools and Apps
Models for the Future: Apple Budget
A spreadsheet tool for assessing pre-plant practices for improving soil health in orchards. - Articles
Models for the Future: Twin Springs Fruit Farm
Twin Springs Fruit Farm is located in Orrtanna, which is in the heart of the Adams County Fruit Belt. - Articles
Models for the Future: Scholl Orchards
On forty five acres of steep Lehigh County shale, Scholl Orchards is the perfect site for growing fruit. - Articles
Models for the Future: McCleaf's Orchard
McCleaf's Orchard is a fifth generation farm originally founded in 1888 and located in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. - Articles
Start Farming "Models for the Future" Living Classrooms
Penn State Extension partners with seven growers across the Commonwealth to provide on-farm demonstrations for new, young, and minority farmers. - Articles
Beginning Grower: Planning and Planting an Orchard
Planning and preparing a site for a new orchard begins two to three years ahead of planting. Mistakes made in planning and planting an orchard cannot easily be reversed. - Videos
Beginning Farmer "Models for the Future"
Length 8:54This video shares impacts from a Penn State Extension beginning farmer project to establish on-farm apple demonstration plots, called "Models for the Future". - Articles
Finding and Keeping your CSA Members
Think about who your ideal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member is. Find them and keep them. - Articles
Working with Plain Sect Growers
Learn about the culture and practices of the plain sect community, and take away methods for successfully working with this increasing population of farmers. - Videos
Using it all: Drying Apples
Length 11:52Adding value, converting produce to shelf stable items, helps farmers recoup production costs. This video shows steps of preparing, producing and packaging to convert fresh apples to dried slices. - News
What Do Your Customers Really Expect from Your Orchard?
Date Posted 2/2/2023All orchard operations, regardless of their marketing strategy, should use signage and point-of-purchase support materials to educate and motivate their customers to make informed purchases. - Articles
Crop Insurance
This document includes a checklist of the information you will need to contact an insurance provider to purchase crop insurance.