The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-02-17
: THE STRAWBERRY
AS A CASH CROP
ARTICLE No. 2.A

prepared by Division Of Extension,
University Of Tennessee.)
Tennessee Growers Reared Big
Profits Last Year.
During recent years there has
been consistent decline in the acre
age and production Of Strawberries
in southern producing territories.
This decline, probably due to the diff
ficulties in securing labor to harvest
the crop, has curtailed production
considerably below consumption de-
mands. and has resulted in higher
prices being paid for Strawberries
than has ever been known before in
the history Of the country. Some
idea Of the decline in acreage and
production and consequent effect in
increasing the prices can be secured
from the following figures:
In the 16 Southern states produc-
ing early strawberries in large guam
titles there were in 1916, 98,825 acres
planted in Strawberries; in 1917,
$4,000 acres; in 1918, 10000 acres,
and in 1919, $1,000 acres. From this
total area in 1916 there were shipped
total Of $4,000 cars, principally
to Northern consuming markets. In
1919 there were shipped a total Of
5000 cars. or 5000 cars less than in
1916. The average car contains 450
crates of IA Quarts each. The price
ner quart in 1916 ranged from 4 to
Is cents; in 1919, 10 to 35 cents
quart,
According to the Bureau Of
Markets, there were 1900 acres
planted il strawberries in Tennessee
in 1918 and 8,430 acres in 1919. The
average yield per acre was estimated
at So crates in 1918 and 80 crates III
1919. This gave a tonnage of 1,434.
cars shipped from Tennessee in 1918
and 1899 In 1919. While the greatly,
reduced acreage in 1919 gave an al
most equal yield to 1918, the aver
age cash f. o. b. price for 1919 was
S4.91 for a 24-quart crate, compared
with S3.18 received in 1918, at which
nrce the crop was worth consider
ably more than during the preceding
~ ar While the average price for
the 1920 crop has not been obtained,
authorities state that it was about
the same as 1919
Should Stimulate Industry.
Both 1919 and 1920 were exception
ally profitable years for berry grow
ers. Statistics gathered in Tcnnes-
see berry sections from 20 growers,
who kept actual account of costs of
production and marketing, show an
average net profit per acre of the
1919 crop was $337.23, based on re-
ports of actual sales made BY grow
ers In all berry districts Of the state. |
The largest profit reported by any
individual was S925.60 per acre, and
the smallest profit was 500. The
average yield per acre of those re-
porting was SO crates. The profits
from a strawberry crop. as seen from
the above, are such as should cause
many growers to plant this crop.
1t is possible that there will be
slight increase in acreage this year,
but coineident with this possibility
there has already been an increased
femand for consuming purposes.
National prohibition has caused
greater demand for fruit juices and
has made these juices more active
than ever before in their influence
in contracting this crop. Returns
the past year and prospective re-
turns for the next few years are
such as to warrant growers to in
crease their acreage slightly. Farm
ers who have not grown Strawberries
IN preceding years but intend to this
year, and who face a possibility Of
not being able to secure labor to
harvest the crop, will find it more
satisfactory to plant only a few acres
80 that the grower and his family
and perhaps a limited amount Of To-
cal helm can properly harvest the
crop. Communities that have num-
Der of farmers each planting only q
few acres. but in the aggregate
100 acres, will be able to
form a cooperative marketing as
ISOLATION and thus economically
market the berries.