Growing and selling PYO

hank · October 7, 2014

I cannot remember anyone here that sells "pick your own" tomatoes. My family sells almost solely PYO fruits and vegetables. For the past 5 years I have developed a very nice PYO tomato business. I'm not sure what the potential may be, there was waste, but after the season ending frost we tallied 20,000 pounds of sold tomatoes on about 1/3 acre (700 total plants). A few of the better customers were called and offered the last green ones and lower quality left overs. It would be nice to chat with other PYO growers. Hank

kurt · October 7, 2014

Am not a seller but here in South Florida there are penty of what we call U PICS.Strawberrys grown on stacked(5) vertical planters(plastic PVC Hydro, pump fed).Tomatoes galore.There are children height restrictions like at the amusement parks.

https://www.hydrostacker.com/commercial/

Salsacharley · October 7, 2014

I am extremely impressed with your production of 20,000 SOLD pounds from 700 plants on 1/3 acre! I am not a PYO but I sell for market. My season isn't over but it is certainly winding down, and I am at a fraction of your production.

Would you be willing to tell us what varieties you grew? And how close are you to a metro area? What type of buyers were your big customers?

Thanks much.

Charley

hank · October 7, 2014

Kurt very interesting. I'd like to see one. Hank

hank · October 7, 2014

Charley, In reverse order, I had about 6 customers who bought 80- 120 lbs.. I am 50 miles from the DC beltway with about 20 miles of city before you get to this road. 500 Mountain Fresh, 200 various heirlooms with a number of others such as Betterboys, cherries, and some mystery plants. Hank

biscgolf · October 9, 2014

PYO tomatoes is a good idea. I don't think anyone does much besides berries, tree fruit and pumpkins as PYO around here. I grow produce for a living but don't do PYO.

October 7, 2014	#1
hank Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: winchester va usa Posts: 106	Growing and selling PYO I cannot remember anyone here that sells "pick your own" tomatoes. My family sells almost solely PYO fruits and vegetables. For the past 5 years I have developed a very nice PYO tomato business. I'm not sure what the potential may be, there was waste, but after the season ending frost we tallied 20,000 pounds of sold tomatoes on about 1/3 acre (700 total plants). A few of the better customers were called and offered the last green ones and lower quality left overs. It would be nice to chat with other PYO growers. Hank

October 7, 2014	#2
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,489	Am not a seller but here in South Florida there are penty of what we call U PICS.Strawberrys grown on stacked(5) vertical planters(plastic PVC Hydro, pump fed).Tomatoes galore.There are children height restrictions like at the amusement parks. https://www.hydrostacker.com/commercial/ __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; October 7, 2014 at 08:33 PM.

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October 7, 2014	#3
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	I am extremely impressed with your production of 20,000 SOLD pounds from 700 plants on 1/3 acre! I am not a PYO but I sell for market. My season isn't over but it is certainly winding down, and I am at a fraction of your production. Would you be willing to tell us what varieties you grew? And how close are you to a metro area? What type of buyers were your big customers? Thanks much. Charley

October 9, 2014	#6
biscgolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	PYO tomatoes is a good idea. I don't think anyone does much besides berries, tree fruit and pumpkins as PYO around here. I grow produce for a living but don't do PYO.