How Much Money and Profit Can You Make from Growing Cherries per Acre?
The profit you can make from growing cherries per acre depends on various factors, such as the type of cherry trees, the region you're growing in, farming practices, market prices, and production costs. The numbers provided here are estimates and can vary greatly depending on these factors.
Yield: Cherry yields can vary from 3 to 5 tons per acre for sweet cherries and 5 to 8 tons per acre for tart cherries, depending on the variety, tree age, and growing conditions.
Market price: The market price for cherries can fluctuate based on supply and demand, quality, and the variety of cherries. As of 2023, sweet cherries were selling for about $2.00 to $4.00 per pound and tart cherries for about $1.00 to $2.00 per pound. These prices can vary significantly over time and across different markets.
Production costs: The costs of establishing and maintaining a cherry orchard can be high. Expenses include land, tree planting, irrigation, pruning, pest and disease management, labor, and harvesting. It's essential to factor these costs into your calculations when determining potential profits.
Using these parameters, let's calculate an estimated profit per acre for sweet cherries:
Yield: 4 tons per acre (8,000 pounds) Average market price: $3.00 per pound Revenue: 8,000 pounds x $3.00 = $24,000 per acre
Now let's estimate production costs:
Establishment costs (land, planting, irrigation, etc.): $3,000 to $6,000 per acre (amortized over the orchard's productive life) Annual production costs (pruning, pest and disease management, labor, etc.): $2,000 to $3,000 per acre Total annual costs: $5,000 to $9,000 per acre
Subtract the total annual costs from the revenue to get an estimate of the profit per acre:
Profit: $24,000 (revenue) - $5,000 to $9,000 (costs) = $15,000 to $19,000 per acre
Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate, and actual profits can vary greatly. It's also important to remember that cherry trees typically take 4 to 7 years to reach full production, so profits in the early years will be lower. Additionally, weather events, pests, and diseases can impact yield and quality, which will affect your profits. It's essential to research the specific market conditions, production costs, and potential challenges in your region to get a more accurate estimate of potential profits.