A fruit grower selects varieties, develops sites, and establishes sales and distribution networks. They inspect fields, secure harvest contracts, and develop marketing plans. Professional training is available, and attending conferences and subscribing to trade publications can provide access to industry trends.
A fruit grower selects fruit varieties for cultivation, develops agricultural sites, and establishes a sales and distribution network to bring fruit to consumers. Some fruit growers work as independent farmers and others are large corporations that may own or control substantial orchards. Producers can partner with canneries and other facilities to get an outlet for their products and sell directly to consumers in some regions.
On a new farm, the fruit grower needs to select the appropriate stock, considering the climate and market demands. Fruit growers can also custom graft their trees, and some are dedicated to fruit breeding to develop new cultivars. This can be profitable, as a successfully bred fruit tree can be sold to other growers. On an established farm, the job includes maintaining existing trees and making necessary changes, such as uprooting unproductive trees or replacing outdated fruit with more marketable produce.
A fruit grower’s day-to-day work can include inspecting fields, securing harvest contracts, hiring staff, and developing marketing and expansion plans. Some producers do not deal with marketing and simply contract to sell their crops to wholesalers, canners and other agricultural companies. Others may work directly with grocery stores or may plan to sell fruit at farmers’ markets and stalls, in which case they need marketing plans and customer service skills. This work may also include seeking licenses and permits to sell directly to the public, as well as training staff in food safety and customer service so they can represent the farm.
The fruit grower can attend conferences and subscribe to trade publications for professional development. This can provide access to information about new fruit cultivars and industry trends. Professional connections can also help growers build a customer base and can provide access to the newest and most interesting fruit cultivars. A fruit grower may also travel to pick new fruit for cultivation and participate in marketing and development campaigns for the fruit industry to introduce new or modified fruit to the public.
Professional training is available for fruit growers. Some producers attend colleges or universities to earn degrees in agriculture, business, and related fields. Others may work for family businesses they plan to inherit. They can receive training from their family members in agriculture in general, as well as the specific needs of a specific location. A fruit grower can also start out as an employee to build skills and eventually branch out to create their own farm.
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