Pick Your Own: Profit, Pressure & People on Small Farms

<p>What if you could add value to your farm without scaling production? In this episode, we explore pick-your-own as a diversification strategy—covering the realities, the opportunities, and what farmers need to know before opening the gate.</p><p>Key episode moments</p><p><strong>(00:00)</strong> Is pick-your-own actually more profitable than wholesale?</p><p><strong>(01:30)</strong> From city life to farming: buying a rundown blueberry farm with no experience</p><p><strong>(04:30)</strong> COVID pivot: opening the gates and inviting the public in</p><p><strong>(08:30)</strong> Why customers—not strategy—often drive the shift to PYO</p><p><strong>(14:00)</strong> Burnout from farmers markets → “people are paying me to pick my fruit”</p><p><strong>(15:30)</strong> Location matters—but people will travel for the experience</p><p><strong>(17:30)</strong> The reality of customers: education, behaviour &amp; managing expectations</p><p><strong>(20:00)</strong> Does it stack up? Labour savings vs crop loss and margins</p><p><strong>(29:30)</strong> Marketing that works: social media timing + a strong website</p><p><strong>(41:30)</strong> Final advice: start small, ask for help, and know if it suits your personality</p><p><br></p><p>Read the full transcript</p><p>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vvs2_PqBmqMlhXEjoZjc3Ul332DDtBl2/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=103831811474414598304&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true</p><p><br></p><p>Explore more from our guests below:</p><p><a href="https://meliorafarm.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">meliorafarm.com.au</a></p><p><a href="https://www.cedarcreekorchards.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">cedarcreekorchards.com.au</a></p><p><a href="https://www.higginscreekfarm.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">higginscreekfarm.com.au</a></p><p><br></p><p>Want more info about our pick your own guide. Click the link below:</p><p>https://forms.gle/M4uShQbCU954w2JEA</p><p><br></p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those