How do I check a u-pick berry farm’s plant age and yield history?
Ask for a map of every berry block with the variety, planting date and replanting plan, then compare it against picking records for each recent season. Walk the rows to see whether plant health and spacing match the records. Old or thin plantings can mean heavy replanting costs ahead.
Start with the block map. Each planting should show the variety, the year it went in, and its condition. Berry plants have a productive life that varies by crop, so ask the seller what they expect from each block and why. Ask which blocks have been replanted, which are due, and how the seller paid for it. A farm with many aging plantings is carrying a bill that arrives after you take over.
Then test the yield history. Ask for picking records, whether from sign-in sheets, scale tickets or sales logs, and compare them with the block map. Look for seasons when weather, disease or pests hurt the crop and ask how the seller responded. Yield is only half of the story in a u-pick, because visitors pick less than a farm crew would, so ask how much of the crop was actually harvested.
Finally, walk the fields in season if you can. Look at gaps in rows, signs of disease, weed pressure, and irrigation and trellis condition. Bring an experienced grower or an agronomist to read what you are seeing. Ask who knows each block best, and whether that person will stay.
Key takeaways
- Get a block-by-block map with variety, planting year, condition and replanting plans.
- Compare picking records with the map, and ask about bad seasons and what caused them.
- Walk the rows with an experienced grower to confirm the records match the plants.
Related reading
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- GuideBuying a berry farm in Canada
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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