Information Sources for Planning a Commercial Fruit Operation Chad Finn Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri-Columbia A commercial fruit operation can be a source of satisfaction, pride and profit, but it can also be a big financial loss if it is not approached with caution and careful planning. Every year fruit plantings are purchased or planted by people who have no experience in growing fruit crops. Some have not attempted to familiarize themselves with the business before investing their money, time and labor. All too frequently, the results are mismanaged plantings and a disillusioned purchaser. Planning and good management are key to a successful venture.
Marketing is a major but often neglected component of good management.
While many pitfalls exist in fruit production, the worst scenario is to spend a great deal of money and time to produce a high-quality product, then have nowhere to market it. The following sources were put together as a guide to help you plan your new venture. These sources will not be applicable to all operations, but they can help you gain a better understanding of fruit production and give you some hard information to use in planning. People who can help you University Extension Specialists in each county in Missouri. They may not have the answers, but they are great at finding someone who does.