I have a tiny IRA account. Beyond that, virtually every dollar that I have made I have invested back into my operation. My friends who are not in the industry spend their time thinking about how to double their money in the stock market, while I lay awake nights worrying about how to feed my family. I desperately try to remember that I'm a winner, but often I now find myself questioning my self-worth. Perhaps in other agricultural industries, it would be easier to cut back expenses, not plant a crop unless you can forecast a return, find off-farm employment to supply a paycheck.
Tree fruit are defiantly different.
They need every bit as much attention and expense even in bad years. In a pure market economy such ours, there is absolutely no way to insure that you cover your costs. The fruit industry in Washington State, has always been an independent, self-reliant group. We've seen hard times in the past, and the survivors will likely see tough times in the future. But the survivors will continue to find it nearly impossible to continue if the current situation exists.