Updated November 2019
CCD-BG-5
Author: Matt Ernst
Overview
This budget presents estimated costs and returns for Kentucky matted row strawberry production under two marketing scenarios: wholesale/retail and pick-your-own (PYO). Returns are reported for years 2–4 of a four-year rotation and represent returns to management after accounting for production, land, labor, and management costs.
Strawberries must be established for one year prior to harvest, and no returns are generated in the first year under a matted row system. Establishment costs (approximately $4,000 per acre) are prorated over the four-year life of the planting. Under these assumptions, well-managed strawberry plantings in Kentucky may generate annual returns ranging from approximately $3,000 to $15,000 per acre during productive years.
Wholesale/Retail Production Summary
Returns shown represent annual per acre returns to management for years 2–4 under varying yields and market prices.
Annual Returns to Management (Wholesale/Retail)
| Price ($/lb) | 5,500 lbs | 6,000 lbs | 6,500 lbs | 7,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs | 8,500 lbs | 9,000 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.25 | $250 | $459 | $668 | $878 | $1,293 | $1,505 | $1,714 |
| $1.40 | $993 | $1,269 | $1,546 | $1,823 | $2,376 | $2,653 | $2,929 |
| $1.50 | $1,488 | $1,809 | $2,131 | $2,453 | $3,096 | $3,418 | $3,739 |
| $1.60 | $1,983 | $2,349 | $2,716 | $3,085 | $3,816 | $4,183 | $4,549 |
| $1.75 | $2,725 | $3,159 | $3,593 | $4,028 | $4,896 | $5,330 | $5,764 |
| $1.90 | $3,468 | $3,969 | $4,471 | $4,973 | $5,976 | $6,478 | $6,979 |
| $2.00 | $3,963 | $4,509 | $5,056 | $5,603 | $6,696 | $7,243 | $7,789 |
| $2.10 | $4,458 | $5,049 | $5,641 | $6,233 | $7,416 | $8,008 | $8,599 |
| $2.25 | $5,200 | $5,859 | $6,518 | $7,178 | $8,496 | $9,155 | $9,814 |
| $2.40 | $5,943 | $6,669 | $7,396 | $8,123 | $9,576 | $10,303 | $11,029 |
| $2.50 | $6,438 | $7,209 | $7,981 | $8,753 | $10,296 | $11,068 | $11,839 |
| $2.75 | $7,675 | $8,559 | $9,443 | $10,328 | $12,096 | $12,980 | $13,864 |
| $3.00 | $8,913 | $9,909 | $10,906 | $11,903 | $13,896 | $14,893 | $15,889 |
| $3.25 | $10,150 | $11,259 | $12,368 | $13,478 | $15,696 | $16,805 | $17,914 |
| $3.50 | $11,388 | $12,609 | $13,831 | $15,053 | $17,496 | $18,718 | $19,939 |
| $3.75 | $12,625 | $13,959 | $15,293 | $16,628 | $19,296 | $20,630 | $21,964 |
| $4.00 | $13,863 | $15,309 | $16,756 | $18,203 | $21,096 | $22,543 | $23,989 |
Pick Your Own (PYO) Production Summary
Returns shown represent annual per acre returns to management for years 2–4 under varying yields and market prices.
Annual Returns to Management (Pick Your Own)
| Price ($/lb) | 5,500 lbs | 6,000 lbs | 6,500 lbs | 7,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs | 8,500 lbs | 9,000 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2,142 | $2,521 | $2,900 | $3,280 | $4,038 | $4,418 | $4,797 |
| $1.25 | $3,379 | $3,871 | $4,363 | $4,855 | $5,838 | $6,330 | $6,822 |
| $1.50 | $4,617 | $5,221 | $5,825 | $6,430 | $7,638 | $8,243 | $8,847 |
| $1.75 | $5,854 | $6,571 | $7,288 | $8,005 | $9,438 | $10,155 | $10,872 |
| $2.00 | $7,092 | $7,921 | $8,750 | $9,580 | $11,238 | $12,068 | $12,897 |
| $2.25 | $8,329 | $9,271 | $10,213 | $11,155 | $13,038 | $13,980 | $14,922 |
| $2.50 | $9,567 | $10,621 | $11,676 | $12,730 | $14,838 | $15,893 | $16,947 |
| $2.75 | $10,804 | $11,971 | $13,138 | $14,368 | $16,710 | $17,882 | $18,972 |
| $3.00 | $12,042 | $13,321 | $14,600 | $15,880 | $18,438 | $19,718 | $20,997 |
| $3.25 | $13,279 | $14,671 | $16,063 | $17,455 | $20,238 | $21,630 | $23,022 |
Reviewed by
John Strang and Shawn Wright, UK Extension Specialists
Suggested Citation
Ernst, M. (2019). Kentucky Strawberry Profitability Estimated Costs and Returns. CCD-BG-5. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Available: https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/strawberryreturns.pdf