Growing strawberries in the Crimea as a business. Business plan for growing strawberries - a detailed description of the business, organizational structure, risk factors. Cost calculations

Growing fresh berries good business. Especially when it comes to strawberries. But those who believe that this is possible only in summer are deeply mistaken. Modern technologies allow to produce tasty goods all year round. So the strawberry growing business can generate income all the time.

There are no competitors!

I must say that fresh berries are in demand at any time of the year. Another question is that in winter on the shelves there are only imported products of unknown origin (these berries do not smell like strawberries) at a fabulous price. And many people want to buy fragrant and high-quality strawberries. So if you decide to grow strawberries for sale, you will have practically no competitors. It is enough just to set a real price for it, and the strawberry aroma of natural berries will speak for itself.

Legal factor

If you decide to grow strawberries and sell them through trading network, you will have to register as individual entrepreneur. So, in order to legalize your activities and be able to trade your own crop, you need to:

Pass the state registration and .
Select OKVED code: 01.13.21. Cultivation of fruit and berry crops.
This group includes the cultivation of apples, plums, cherries, citrus fruits, apricots, peaches, currants, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries (strawberries) and other fruit crops.
Choose a taxation system. Although in this case you will be classified as a producer of agricultural products (even if you do not own or lease a garden plot for agricultural purposes) and will be able to use the opportunity to pay the Unified Agricultural Tax, at a rate of 6% from net profit.

Features of technology and necessary equipment

Let's try to draw up a business plan for growing strawberries and start with technology and necessary equipment. Many will be surprised, but growing strawberries in the beds - last century. Today, for the cultivation of this berry, it is not necessary to set up a garden and fertilize it with manure. You can grow strawberries right in a city apartment! The main thing is to approach the issue correctly.

Let's start with the fact that the fruiting period of strawberries indoors is September - May. In summer, there is no way to grow berries in this way. economic sense. But in order to get fresh strawberries already in September, and then trade them in the winter, you will need to create a mother plantation (the preparatory period for a strawberry business is about four months). To do this, you need to plant either ready-made seedlings or seeds (this option is preferable) in small growing boxes. Strawberry seed germination is low enough that at best half of what you sow will sprout. The main thing is to moisten the soil well and illuminate the plants (they need light 12 hours a day). When the seedlings are more or less rooted, the first pick should be carried out, planting it in a checkerboard pattern, and after a month and a half, the procedure should be repeated, but the seedlings should already be planted in ready-made containers for strawberries. After that, your plantation is ready to bloom and bear fruit. True, do not forget that every couple of years strawberry bushes need to be updated. This can be done using your own rosette seedlings, which will appear on the mother bushes. Thus, it turns out that you will receive new planting material completely free of charge from your own strawberry plantation, as a by-product of production.

If you plant a plantation in late spring, then by autumn the strawberries will be ready to bear fruit, which means that you will receive your first income in October. As soon as the season ends (it will be at the end of May), the emerging flower stalks will need to be removed, preventing the strawberries from bearing fruit. This tactic promotes the production of new planting material, as the bushes will begin to let out mustaches, on which young rosettes will appear. It is they who can later be used to update the plantation.

Climatic conditions. The room should have an appropriate temperature - + 22 * C, humidity - 75%, good ventilation and special three-row racks that will serve as beds. Both light and the required temperature will be provided by sodium lamps, but only on condition that their power is at least 400 watts.
Plantation shelving. The height of the rack is 1.5 meters, the width is 1 meter, but the length can be any, as long as the room allows. Each rack should be divided into three rows and containers 20 centimeters high should be placed on them. The containers must be filled with a special substrate with the addition of humus, into which strawberry bushes will then be planted.

Irrigation system. To grow strawberries at home, it is necessary to use a drip irrigation system, which is installed before planting. Can be purchased ready system(today they are sold in specialized stores), or you can mount it yourself by reading the manual on the Internet. In the latter case, you will only have to spend on expendable materials: water tanks and plastic tubes through which watering will be carried out.

Choose the right variety

the selected varieties must belong to the remontant type of strawberry (this means that the plant blooms several times a year)
the formation of the ovary and berries must go continuously
the berries of the selected varieties should be large, as well as brightly and evenly colored
strawberries should have a strong aroma and a pronounced taste

Guided by these criteria, you can choose one or several different varieties and start growing them.

How to sell crops?

If you have planted, grown and harvested strawberries, then a new question arises: where and how to sell them. First of all, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with this information. Although it is worth thinking about how to sell a product at the stage of business planning. Today there are several options:

But before you start trading, concluding an agreement with a supermarket or a wholesale company, you need to take care of obtaining documents, without which the strawberry trade will be illegal. It's about about:

declaration of conformity with GOST R (to obtain it from certification bodies, you will have to contact the SES and special laboratories and prove that your strawberries meet the requirements for such products);
phytosanitary certificate (it is issued by Rosselkhoznadzor for all products of plant origin).

Expenses and income

Home business growing strawberries is quite a profitable business. But here it is important to correctly approach the organization of the workflow and optimize costs.

If you plan to grow strawberries in your own apartment, then your plantation will not be more than 80 square meters (even if the containers are installed in three rows). And this means that the daily harvest will not exceed 10-12 kilograms of fresh berries. Therefore, you will be able to serve and process (including packing in baskets) all the strawberries yourself, without involving additional labor force. Therefore, the cost of renting a room or land plot, wages hired workers, special equipment, overalls and additional packaging will not hit your pocket.

So, let's calculate the necessary investments, expenses and incomes, taking into account that you will grow strawberries on your own in your home, without involving employees, and you will sell the berries through a wholesale company.

In order to start growing strawberries, you will need 106,000 rubles.

The monthly cost of growing strawberries is minimal and includes only electricity, because the lamps that provide 12 hours of light for plants will also warm the room, raising the air temperature to the required level. As for irrigation, there is no excess water consumption with a drip irrigation system.

Considering that a strawberry plantation organized on 120 square meters of area will be 80 square meters, the monthly yield will average 4 kilograms of berries from one square meter, that is, only 320 kilograms. Calculate income:

Taking into account monthly expenses, the net profit will be 130,000 rubles. The profitability of such a business is 70%, and all initial costs for equipment, planting material and electricity during the creation of a mother plantation will pay off in two months of selling berries.

- Strengths
- Business registration
2. Sales of strawberries
- Option 1. Sales through own outlets
- Option 2. Sales through shops and supermarkets
- Staff
4. Financial calculations
4. Conclusion

The high profitability of sales of strawberries is due to in high demand consumers and high cost relative to products with similar properties. The demand for strawberries, in turn, is provided by excellent taste, appetizing appearance and some psychological aspects, for example, your favorite dessert or romance.

It is believed that fresh ripe strawberries are available only in the summer season, in the rest of the year they are used in canned or frozen form. Imported strawberries from abroad are mainly used to decorate sweet dishes and desserts, due to their high cost.

With the help of special technology and strawberry varieties that bear fruit all year round, it makes sense to organize an enterprise for the production (growing) of strawberries with subsequent retail sales.

1. Business plan for growing and selling strawberries

Strengths

high profitability of the project;
free market;
no strong competition.

Option 3. Home delivery service

The service is relevant in a large locality, how additional way implementation. Exclusively new idea sales of strawberries. Supermarkets that deliver groceries to your home or to order do not focus on strawberries. A well-conducted marketing campaign and advertising is required.

To sell strawberries and draw up contracts with customers, you need to issue a number of permits:

declaration of conformity GOST R. Characterizes the check for standardization, compliance of the product with its description. Detailed features are recognized in the bodies of the SES;
phytosanitary certificate. Data on the document and its execution are provided by Rosselkhoznadzor.

3. Fixed assets for growing strawberries and equipment for sale

Organization of strawberry cultivation

land area not less than 120 sq.m.,
greenhouse buildings,
racks for growing strawberries,
drip irrigation system,
garden tools and other equipment according to technology.

Organization of sales at the point of sale

commercial premises (roller shutters) 5-8 sq. m.,
refrigeration equipment for storing strawberries,
refrigerated showcase,
electronic balance,
container for storage and packaging.

Staff

With established production, 1-2 workers are needed for maintenance:

strawberry picker, technologist. Collection and organization of strawberry cultivation.
strawberry picker, handyman, driver.
distributor at the point of sale.

Requirements for staff - the presence of a health book and a desire to work. In general, staff is needed when expanding production, growing strawberries on 80 kV. m. can be serviced by yourself.

Watch the video - "A way to grow strawberries all year round"

4. Financial calculations

According to the technology, the predicted harvest 4.4 - 5.1 kg ripe strawberries per month from 1 sq. m.,

The minimum harvest per month will be 4.4 x 80 = 352 kg;

Analysis of the cost of strawberries is determined by the ratio of the sum of the prices of different periods to their quantity, on average, the cost is 400-500 rubles/kg.

Estimated yield is 352 kg x 400 rubles. - costs = 140800 rub./month minus variable costs and percentage fixed costs including depreciation charges.

4. Conclusion

Thus, the sale of strawberries is a profitable and profitable business. It is important for this to draw up a business plan for growing and selling strawberries, what will be the costs and income from your activities.

Strawberries are delicious, sweet, and therefore almost everyone loves them. That is why such a business is so attractive and popular among those who know how to work the land: their favorite berries are always on the table, and there is an opportunity to make good money.

What are the benefits of a berry growing business?

Main advantages this business are:

relatively small investments at the initial stage;
the ability to grow berries in any season;
good income in winter period;
short payback;
harvesting does not require much effort.

It would be fair to warn about the risks of such a business:

the occurrence of a plant disease, the appearance of harmful insects is possible;
when not proper care the plant can deteriorate: wither, rot.

Therefore, in order to avoid losses and disappointments, thoroughly study all aspects of this business before starting.

Strawberry cultivation options and their features

There are several options for growing berries (in open ground, closed, protected), each of which has its own advantages. Evaluate your strengths, financial capabilities. In addition, it is important to decide whether to breed only seedlings, or grow berries.

Home cultivation (indoors)

The business of growing seedlings and strawberries can be run even at home - this does not require a lot of space and investments. You can grow berries in a small area: on a balcony, loggia or in a garage.

Suitable for home growing your favorite berry dutch technology. The essence of the method: a plastic bag is filled with perlite and peat. Further, holes are made in it for seedlings, irrigation tubes are brought in and an artificial lighting system is being established. Three bags can be placed per 1 square meter.

At the initial stage, watering can be done independently, that is, manually. Later, you can install a drip system. You will also have to pollinate the berries - at home, strawberries do not pollinate themselves. For this, a brush with natural bristles is suitable. If the plantation is large, you can use a home fan.

Since the plant needs air circulation, the room in which you decide to grow strawberries should be well ventilated. To do this, it is enough to keep the window open. It should be noted that strawberries really need light. Therefore, it is desirable to choose a sunny side for seedlings.

Home growing of berries is suitable for beginner businessmen. In this case, it is more convenient to build a business on growing seedlings than on fruits.

Greenhouse (protected ground)

The method of growing berries in a greenhouse is an option for those who want to engage in such a business all year round. This will require appropriate costs: for the installation of a greenhouse structure, equipment for irrigation and heating, greenhouse lighting. The greenhouse method of growing strawberries requires many times more expenses than growing in open ground. But, accordingly, the income is higher.

The plant in the greenhouse matures several months faster than in the open field. This is influenced by artificial optimal conditions for growing. With proper care, the berries will be beautiful and useful.

Strawberries in a heated greenhouse are often planted in the soil. You can also plant the plant in small containers - special berry blocks or in boxes filled with a mixture of coconut and peat.

By the way, in greenhouses you can also have another source of income.

open ground

Growing berries in open ground is possible only during the season. It also has its pros and cons. The advantages, of course, include minimum investment compared to other methods. Strawberries in season are easy to grow, not difficult to sell. The taste and aroma of strawberries grown in this way is unmatched by others. This method of growing is great for beginners in this business.

The disadvantages include the risk of a possible negative impact of nature. For example, strawberries can burn in the sun or vice versa, freeze. In addition, the plant needs to be replanted every 4 years.

Start-up costs

Costs directly depend on the option of growing a plant:

Home planting in protected ground.
Greenhouse planting in closed ground.
In open ground.

Home planting of berries at the initial stage requires purchase costs:

equipment (containers, racks);
planting material;
soil;
lighting systems.

The method of growing strawberries in a greenhouse, in addition to those listed above, requires the following costs:

building a greenhouse;
carrying out lighting and water supply in it.

Growing a plant in open ground requires the following costs:

purchase of planting material;
soil treatment from harmful insects;
fertilizers.

Which grade to choose for business

For growing strawberries, it is better to choose varieties of different ripening periods. In this way, “downtime” during the ripening process can be avoided.

early maturing varieties

Early varieties include:

Olivia is a winter-hardy variety that withstands the difficult Russian climate well. Such strawberries have a spectacular presentation - the berries are large, regular in shape, withstand transportation well.
Alba is one of the best early varieties for industry. Strawberries are disease resistant, handle transportation well and have a long shelf life.
Clery is a great choice for business. This variety is perfectly preserved during transportation, gives a lot of planting material (whiskers). Clary's view is very effective - a bright berry, like a varnished skin, you want to buy such a strawberry.

Early ripening varieties require special care:

regular watering with water not colder than 25 degrees;
mulching beds with compost;
airing the plant in sunny weather.

Varieties of medium maturity:

For doing business, you can choose the following varieties:

Marmalade is a variety with the advantage of high yield. Strawberry regular conical shape with a sheen.
Arosa too. a good choice for cultivation. The berries of this variety are bright orange in color and slightly flattened.
Asia - has a high sugar content, making the berries very tasty. Strawberries are resistant to frost, diseases, long-term storage. This is one of the best grades for the industry.

Varieties of medium ripening need mainly the following:

correct control of temperature conditions;
drip irrigation.

late maturing variety

Late ripening strawberries suitable for growing for sale include a variety such as Malvina - berries are sweet, with a delicate aroma. Strawberries are resistant to natural influences, but susceptible to insect damage.

Variety care:

this strawberry is distinguished by the growth of leaves, therefore, to improve ventilation, illumination and ripening of berries, it is better to thin out the leaves during the fruiting period;
the variety requires fertilization with nitrogen substances, while it is very important that the application of top dressing is moderate.

Repair varieties

The difference between remontant varieties is their ability to bear fruit three times during the growing season. Best Options for business:

Monterey is a variety suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Excellent harvest, juicy berries.
Portola is a new variety, an improvement of Albion. It differs from it in a milder taste and high yield.
San Andreas - similar to the characteristics of the Albion variety, but the San Andreas berries are larger. Strawberries are weather and disease resistant.

Care for remontant varieties includes:

abundant watering;
loosening the soil;
treatment for pests and diseases;
soil fertilization;
weeding;
for some varieties - removal of whiskers.

Garlic planted between bushes will protect strawberries from pests.

Watch this video for tips on growing strawberries from a plant expert at the Green Garden community. The expert will talk about the seasonal features of plant care:

Strawberry marketing options

The most acceptable ways to sell goods:

Home delivery of strawberries is an actual way of marketing in a populated area, for example, a millionaire.
Sales through supermarkets.
Delivery of berries for processing.
Sales through own outlets: market, supermarket shop or mall. This option is suitable for the sale of large volumes of strawberries.

Each sales option requires the execution of certain documents!

Profitability of the strawberry business

To calculate the profitability from the sale of strawberries, it is necessary to calculate all costs: from the purchase of material to the delivery of goods to the buyer. Don't forget your monthly electricity and heating bills. You also need to know the expected profit.

A square meter of seedlings produces 4.5 kg of fruit per month - this formula should be the starting point for calculating monthly profits. That is, a plantation of 50 squares will bring 225 kg of berries per month.

Depending on the season, the cost of berries varies dramatically. Average price it is considered 400-500 rubles. per kilogram. Accordingly, a plantation with an area of 50 squares will bring an income of 90 - 112.5 thousand rubles a month.

Thus, the liquidity of the strawberry business is only a few months.

The opportunity to receive high income from the sale of berries or strawberry seedlings - main reason, according to which amateur gardeners retrained into businessmen. Regardless of the season, the competition is only imported expensive goods with average taste, which is also a great advantage of this business.

Growing strawberries as a business is a great solution for entrepreneurs who understand a lot about agriculture. The juicy and fragrant berry is in high demand in retail stores and catering establishments; own farming will fully pay off in 2 years. The strawberry business is not too complicated, but when organizing it, you will have to take into account many important little things on which the success of the project depends.

strawberry cultivation technology for sale

To achieve high profitability, it is better to combine open beds with greenhouses. This approach will help:

save electricity in the summer;
extend the fruiting season from early spring to frost;
in heated greenhouses, the harvest can be obtained all year round;
the opportunity to experiment with varieties, choosing the most delicious and fruitful.

Industrial cultivation of berries has a number of features. Large enough areas are needed to create open beds. To protect yourself from pests and simplify the care of plantings, the beds can be made raised, and the space between the berry bushes and the aisles can be mulched with peat, sawdust or agrofiber. Growing strawberries in the open field makes it possible to get a good harvest, the berries are distinguished by a particularly bright taste and delicate aroma. There is only one minus in the beds - the harvest from them can be harvested no more than 1-2 months a year.

Greenhouses should be placed next to open beds. For the successful cultivation of strawberries, constructions made of cellular polycarbonate on a metal frame are suitable. The construction of such a structure is not cheap, but a capital non-separable greenhouse will serve for several years and will not require repair.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round is quite a costly undertaking. The colder the region, the more you have to spend on heating and heating plantings. It is most advantageous to grow berries in the middle zone. In summer, the greenhouse can function without additional heating; in winter, you can save on electricity by using bio-fuel.

How to start a strawberry growing business?

To understand how to make money growing strawberries all year round, you need to study several business plans for such industries. They indicate full list future expenses, as well as future income and overall profitability project. With properly organized work, the enterprise will pay off in 2 years. The larger the production, the higher the profitability, but the initial and fixed costs in this case also increase.

It is easiest to organize a strawberry business on the territory of the former state farm, which has sufficient areas of fertile land. Open plantations and greenhouses can be located on this base. Land is bought or rented, for this you can get state subsidy or soft loan.

Register entity. It is most convenient to run a strawberry business on your own farm. This legal form allows you to significantly save on taxation and allows you to count on additional benefits and subsidies.

Build greenhouses. good profitability give designs from 100 to 250 sq. m. You can start with 1 greenhouse, after a year the economy should be increased. To grow strawberries all year round and facilitate labor, shelters are equipped with an automatic irrigation and ventilation system. Winter greenhouses require a reinforced cinder block foundation and a well-thought-out heating system. It is most profitable to combine electric or water boilers with bio-fuel from a mixture of rotted manure and straw. The mixture is laid out on the beds and covered with a layer of soil. Bio-fuel maintains the ideal temperature for 3-5 months and serves as additional nutrition for plants.

Choose the right strawberry variety. Hybrids are suitable for greenhouses latest generation Dutch, Polish, Russian selection. Consumers prefer large juicy berries of bright red or red-pink color with a pronounced pleasant aroma. To improve profitability and reduce waste, choose a strawberry variety with fairly firm berries that hold their shape well. Such strawberries are well stored and tolerate transportation without any problems.

Strawberries in the open field prefer nutritious light soil without moisture stagnation, moderate top dressing and infrequent but plentiful watering. During the flowering period, the bushes are watered under the root so as not to interfere with the pollination of plants. When planting, a generous portion of humus or rotted compost is introduced into the soil; a single watering with an aqueous solution of a complete complex fertilizer is possible.

So that the berries do not rot, remain clean and beautiful, cover the soil between the bushes with agrofiber. This technique will protect against weeds and maintain a normal level of moisture, which will reduce watering and save on water. Strawberry growing business is a costly business, any opportunity to reduce costs should not be neglected.

From pests, the bushes are treated with insecticides, but this can only be done before the berries are set. Mulching the soil will save you from slugs, greenhouses need to be ventilated more often. So that the strawberries do not rot, harvest on time, immediately after ripening.

Implementation details

The strawberry growing business requires not only investments in greenhouses, but also a well-thought-out scheme for selling products.

Future buyers should be sought long before the harvest. Permanent contracts will bring success, if they are available, you can more clearly plan your own income. A good idea- organization of their own online store, as well as the organization of the processing of berries into compotes, jams, marmalades. small production can be arranged right on site greenhouse farming, it will not require large expenses, but will significantly increase the profitability of the business.

Growing strawberries in a greenhouse all year round needs a constant search for new distribution channels. It is important not only to sell the harvest, but also to ensure a good margin. It is most profitable to work with small retail stores, fruit stands and catering establishments. The rest of the berries can be handed over to wholesalers, this will not bring big profits, but it will avoid disposal.

How much can you earn growing strawberries

Each square meter of the greenhouse, subject to application modern technologies growing strawberries, will bring you about 30 kg of berries. During the winter season, you can harvest three crops, that is, 90 kg of strawberries per 1 sq. m or 9000 kg from 100 sq. m. Selling berries at $5/kg, you will receive $45,000, but over this period your expenses on this project (purchase of seedlings, heating, advertising, transportation, etc.) will amount to $18,000. This means that the organizer of the business for the period from October to May will earn 27 thousand dollars, and after paying taxes, his net profit will be in the range of 25 thousand dollars.

Growing strawberries in the open field will bring less profit per 1 sq. m than in the above case. But the costs of organizing this activity will be lower (when compared with the greenhouse business).

How much money do you need to start a business

The calculations that were carried out by many entrepreneurs involved in the cultivation of strawberries showed that in order to organize their farm, it is necessary to invest:

From 10 thousand dollars, if you grow strawberries in the open field.
From 25 thousand, if you build a greenhouse.

In practice, the most best performance profitability of firms that combine these methods.

To organize a strawberry growing business, you need to: register, rent land, conduct communications, buy seedlings and equipment, and also resolve the issue with the office.

Which equipment to choose

The choice of the necessary equipment for the business in question depends on the method of growing strawberries. If you do not plan to build a greenhouse, then you will need the usual garden tools (shovels, hoes, rakes, etc.), a lawn mower, a cold store, pipes, taps and hoses for watering plants, as well as containers for harvesting.

Entrepreneurs who plan to build a greenhouse, in addition to the listed tools and equipment, will need: a ventilation system, an electric heater, lighting fixtures and an electric generator. You also need to decide how to maintain the optimum air temperature in your greenhouse.

Which OKVED to indicate for a strawberry growing business

The considered line of business belongs to the category of farms for the cultivation of berry crops, which in all-Russian classifier assigned OKVED code 01.25.1.

What documents are needed

The list of documents that the organizer of the strawberry growing business must draw up, in addition to papers confirming the fact of registration in state institutions, includes permissions from the SES and the fire inspectorate. In addition, it is necessary to sign contracts: with the owner of the land, suppliers of seedlings and other contractors. With each worker of the economy it is necessary to conclude labor contract which should take into account the interests of both parties.

Which taxation system to choose

The choice of tax regime for this business depends on the legal form of your economy. For example, for an individual entrepreneur or LLC, the simplified tax system is more suitable (with the ability to pay 6% of gross income or 15% of the difference between income and expenses), and for farming - a single agricultural tax.

Do you need permission

And good news for entrepreneurs who decide to make money growing strawberries. For this line of business, you do not need to obtain special permits and licenses.

Strawberries are one of the most popular berries among Russian citizens, but their average consumption does not exceed one and a half kilograms per person per year. Meanwhile, a conventional European resident eats almost three kilograms of fruits over the same period. Obviously the potential Russian market sold by a maximum of 50%, that is, many people do not buy fresh or frozen berries due to a banal shortage.

This fully explains why growing strawberries as a business can be a promising way to earn money for an aspiring entrepreneur. At the same time, it should be understood that this crop is sensitive to temperature conditions, light levels, the quality of fertilizer and irrigation, and its fruits are stored for only a few days. Accordingly, the creation of a profitable agricultural enterprise is impossible without an in-depth study of agricultural technology and an impeccable organization of distribution channels.

Why grow strawberries?

Strawberry is a perennial plant of the strawberry family, domesticated by man more than five hundred years ago. Interest in this crop is caused by its fruits, which are juicy red berries weighing up to 45–50 g. They contain a large number of sugar, many vitamins and minerals. Growing strawberries on the site as a business is relevant for a number of reasons:

Berries are processed into jams and preserves. They can be consumed ready-made or used for baking confectionery;
Strawberries are used to make berry drinks and smoothies, milk and vitamin cocktails. It is also used in punch, daiquiri and mojito recipes;
Fresh and canned fruits are used to decorate cakes, pastries, various cold and hot desserts;
Strawberries are part of effective cosmetic creams designed to rejuvenate and smooth the skin;
Berries perfectly compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals in the human body. According to the content of ascorbic acid, they even surpass citrus fruits;
In folk medicine, strawberry leaves and berries are part of many recipes that help normalize blood pressure and get rid of insomnia;
Due to the high concentration of magnesium and potassium, strawberries are used to prevent heart and vascular diseases.

Business features

From the point of view of the owners of personal and summer cottages, the idea of opening a strawberry growing business looks quite attractive, since the berry is in constant demand and is quite expensive. However, during the period of mass fruiting, this perishable product literally fills markets and shops. major importers, farms and even pensioners try to sell it as quickly as possible, as a result of which the price drops to 60-70 rubles per kilogram.

In such a situation, the business idea of growing strawberries all year round becomes relevant: in winter, the cost of a berry rises to 500-800 rubles per kilogram, which not only allows you to compensate for all heating and lighting costs greenhouse complex, but also reduces the payback period of investments to one and a half to two years. In addition, under artificial conditions, the plant develops and bears fruit much better than in open ground. This business has other advantages:

In the greenhouse, plants are protected from rain, hail, rays of the scorching sun and drought. In the open field, the vagaries of the weather reduce the yield by almost a third;
Greenhouse varieties bear fruit continuously, bringing up to 2 kg of berries per bush per season. This greatly enhances both the business;
In the greenhouse, bushes are placed on multi-tiered racks, which makes it possible to effectively use its area. Therefore, the design can be relatively small;
By growing strawberries all year round in a greenhouse, the business is not exposed to the risks associated with the spread of diseases or pests;
In the cold season, only tasteless imported products are on the market, which allows the farmer to regulate prices without regard to competitors;
Activities are a priority for the state, and therefore there are many ways.

What varieties of strawberries to grow?

Considering growing strawberries at home all year round as a business, it is important to achieve short term vegetation of plants, rapid maturation and abundant harvest: any decrease in crop productivity means losses. In the conditions of the Middle Strip, early remontant varieties take root well and develop, which pollinate independently and bear fruit regardless of the length of daylight hours. There are a lot of such varieties:

Monterrey. Three to four times per season, each bush brings 400–500 g of berries weighing 35–45 g. Plants need good lighting and additional space, do not tolerate frost well and are afraid of powdery mildew. Fruits are easy to transport;
San Andreas. In terms of yield, it does not lag behind the previous one, it has strong shiny berries weighing up to 40 g. Fruiting occurs in waves, with an interval of 4–6 weeks. The variety is not afraid of moisture, resistant to rot and powdery mildew;
Queen Elizabeth II. The variety has 4–5 fruiting waves, and the berries reach a weight of 50–70 g. Thus, up to 2.5 kg of fruit per season can be harvested from a bush. Plants do not like heat, need intensive feeding, but tolerate cold well;
Evi 2. The variety is ideal for regions with a mild temperate climate: heat and frost have a bad effect on plant development. It has dense berries weighing 35–60 g, and their size does not decrease with each subsequent fruiting wave;
Temptation F1. The yield of the variety in the greenhouse reaches 1.6 kg per bush, regardless of the length of the day and season. Dense berries have a weight of 25–40 g, and each plant can have 15–20 of them. The disadvantage of the variety is a large number of mustaches;
Albion. It is distinguished by large juicy berries weighing up to 75 g. Each of the four fruiting waves brings 500–600 g of the crop. The variety loves moderate humidity and organic fertilizers. Resistant to almost all diseases;
Moscow delicacy. An early variety that begins to bear fruit 10-15 days faster than the others. Has dense berries weighing 45 g with a high sugar content. The average yield reaches 1.5 kg per bush. Not afraid of frost;
Garland. Variety of domestic selection, fruiting in the open field until the first frost. The average yield is up to 1.2 kg per bush, the weight of the berry is up to 35–40 g. Plants are resistant to drought and disease, but do not tolerate dampness.

Ways to grow strawberries

Growing strawberries in the open field as a business does not require saving space: with a plantation size of tens of hectares, another two or three acres are not so important for the farmer. But in greenhouses, where each square meter costs thousands of rubles, you have to use the space with maximum efficiency. For this, fundamentally different ways of placing plants are used:

Beds. The easiest way is to plant strawberries directly into the ground on which the greenhouse stands. But in this case, no more than 25% of the available resources are used. In addition, during the cold season, the soil will cool down greatly, which can harm plants;
Containers. For a business like growing strawberries in a greenhouse, it is worth using multi-tiered shelving. Containers or gutters made of plastic, wood or metal are installed on them. It is important that all plants are well lit;
Pots. In this case, a separate container is used for each plant. These pots are placed on shelves or hung on supports to fill the entire volume of the greenhouse. The method allows to achieve high density - up to 50 pcs/m²;
Bags. A business plan for growing strawberries all year round may include placing plants in horizontal or vertical bags. Several cuts are made on the side of them, where seedlings are planted;
Pipes. PVC pipes with a diameter of 150-180 mm are laid horizontally, filled with drainage expanded clay and compost. Round holes are cut out for plants at intervals of 30–40 cm. Capillaries for irrigation are also inserted here;
Hydroponics. Plants are planted in a coco substrate, and the nutrient solution circulating in it washes their roots. When using hydroponics to grow strawberries, the business becomes profitable, but very capital intensive.

How to prepare the soil?

As noted above, most strawberry growing methods involve the use of separate plant containers. It is impossible to fill them with ordinary earth and even pure black soil - remontant varieties draw all useful substances from the soil even before the first harvest. Therefore, growing strawberries as a business at home requires the preparation of a special nutritious compost, which includes:

Chernozem - 33%;
Last year's manure - 33%;
High peat - 23%;
Fruit sawdust - 10%;
Wood ash - 1%;
Urea - 1 g / kg.

After preparation, the compost is fertilized by applying 15–20 g of potash and 30–35 g of phosphorus fertilizers per square meter of beds. The soil is additionally moistened so that the nutrients dissolve and are evenly distributed throughout its volume.

However, it is not necessary for a beginner to prepare the soil on their own: ready business a strawberry growing plan may include the purchase of ready-made mixtures of 70% peat, 20% black soil and 10% coarse sand. Suppliers offer them with delivery for 900-1000 rubles per cubic meter.

How to plant strawberries in a greenhouse?

Strawberries do not bear fruit continuously: even in remontant varieties, after three to five harvest waves, a dormant period begins. But the entrepreneur cannot wait several months for the plants to wake up and begin to develop again. Therefore, as a business, growing strawberries in the winter in a greenhouse involves removing old bushes and planting new seedlings so that the berry picking process is relatively constant.

At the same time, ordinary seedlings are unlikely to start growing in November. Therefore, farmers need to use "frigo" seedlings: they are harvested in early autumn, cooled to 0-2 ° C and stored in this form for up to nine months. Such plants can be thawed at any time, awakened and planted in the garden. This process looks like this:

For disinfection, the soil is treated 7–10 days before planting with a solution of 500 g of lime and 50 g of lime heated to 65–70 ° C. blue vitriol on a bucket of water;
Seedlings are prepared independently or bought. It should be purchased in winter, so that during transportation the plants do not thaw and do not wake up prematurely;
The day before planting, the sprouts are taken out of the refrigerator and kept at room temperature without opening the package;
Then the seedlings are removed from the bag and the roots are immersed in warm water for 4 hours so that they absorb the missing moisture;
It is advisable to dissolve growth stimulants in this water - Etamon or Zircon. Avoid getting the nutrient mixture on the upper buds of plants;
Also, the beds are thoroughly watered the day before planting. During this time, moisture should be evenly distributed over the volume of the soil;
When planting on trays or beds, seedlings are distributed in rows with an interval between plants of 25–35 cm.

How to care for strawberries?

Growing strawberries in winter is a rather laborious business: this plant needs daily care and attention. It is enough just not to turn on the boiler once before frosts, to exceed the optimum humidity or to miss the moment of fertilization, so that the entire plantation loses its crop. What does it require special attention:

Strawberries are planted at an air temperature of 12–14 ° C. Then, within a month, it is raised to 18–22°C, and at the flowering stage it is set at 20–24°C. With more high temperatures too many leaves develop;
The first week requires 85% humidity. When the seedlings begin to take root, the rate can be reduced to 75%. For flowering and fruiting, a humidity of 65–70% is recommended: excess dampness impairs pollination and causes rotting of the fruit;
The mode of switching on lighting fixtures must be changed so that the total daylight hours reach 14–16 hours in duration. Illumination should be at least 6000 lux, and better - from 12000 to 15000 lux;
Plants should be watered so that the weekly rate reaches 8–12 l / m² of beds. Waterlogging is also harmful: it provokes the development of fungi and rot. To prevent water from falling on the leaves and inflorescences, it is better to use drip irrigation;
Strawberries cannot self-pollinate. Pollen must be transferred from flower to flower with a soft brush or a directed air stream. In large complexes, you can install a special hive with bees;
To improve the access of oxygen to the root system, periodic shallow loosening of the earth around the plants is necessary. Its purpose is the destruction of the crust formed after watering. Also, to protect the roots, seedlings need to be hilled;
Intensive fruiting of remontant varieties quickly depletes the soil. Therefore, plants should be fed twice a month with complex mineral fertilizers, biohumus, solutions of manure or chicken manure.

How to harvest and store strawberries?

In order for the strawberry growing business to be profitable all year round, you need to be able to properly harvest and preserve the crop. As a rule, the first wave of fruiting begins 60-70 days after planting the seedlings and lasts up to three weeks. During this period, you need to inspect the beds daily and prevent the berries from overripening:

For storage and sale, red fruits are harvested, which have retained their elasticity. They will not lose their presentation before being eaten;
Strawberries are not plucked, but cut with scissors, leaving a couple of centimeters of the stalk. Without a tail, the berry will soften and release the juice much faster;
The goods are folded into cardboard or wooden boxes in two or three layers. Deep plastic containers cannot be used - in it the berry is crushed and suffocated;
In order to avoid additional shifting, strawberries are sorted already in the harvesting process, separating large, small and substandard berries;
Debris adhering to the fruit is removed only with a soft brush so as not to damage the delicate shell of the berry;
Fruits intensively absorb water, after which they soften and rot. Therefore, strawberries are washed only before freezing or eating;
Spoiled and moldy fruits are removed immediately. One such berry can infect all neighboring ones with a fungus;
At a temperature of 2–6°С, berries are stored no more than three days. If you lower it to 0-2 ° C, this period increases to a week.

How to register a business?

Almost any agricultural activity can be carried out within the framework of subsidiary farm, whether it be cultivating strawberries or caring for garlic. But a private person is unlikely to be able to sell two tons of berries per season in a neighboring market, and such a volume of surplus will seem suspicious to the tax service. To organize the wholesale distribution of products to shops and factories, you should register your greenhouse complex in the form of an individual entrepreneur or peasant farm. OKVED codes corresponding to this type of activity are listed below:

OKVED strawberry cultivation

Growing strawberries, you need to think not only about, but also about how to avoid prosecution for tax evasion. Fortunately, the UAT taxation system used in such situations is distinguished by a certain loyalty: an entrepreneur must give the state only 6% of net profit after deducting all costs.

Finally, for each harvest you need to get accompanying documents, which will confirm its safety for citizens - a phytosanitary certificate and a declaration of compliance with the GOST R quality requirements. These certificates, after analyzing product samples, are issued by authorized certification laboratories and local government Rosselkhoznadzor.

Equipment for growing strawberries

Of course, some people manage to earn money by placing trays with plants in their apartments and on balconies. However, it is hardly worth considering seriously growing strawberries on the windowsill all year round as a business: a few kilograms of berries will bring, at best, three to five thousand rubles of income per season. In order to get enough profit for a prosperous life, you need to be puzzled by the design, construction and equipment of a full-fledged greenhouse complex with an area of at least 150–200 m². In-depth study requires:

The greenhouse model. In terms of the ratio of price and useful area, the leading positions are occupied by arched modular structures that allow you to increase the length by adding sections - for example, the greenhouse of the Farmer model with a width of 7.5 m;
Coating material. Polyethylene does not protect the building from heat loss at all, and glass has a lot of weight and high cost. As part of home business it is better to grow strawberries in polycarbonate greenhouses;
Shelving construction. For plants, it is advisable to use multi-tiered structures made of PVC or steel. On sale there are ready-made four-level pyramids for 7 boxes 1.2 m long: each of them will fit 21 bushes;
Lighting. To save electricity, a business plan for growing strawberries in a greenhouse should provide for the installation of sodium or LED lamps with a luminous flux of 12,000–15,000 lm above the beds at a height of 2.3–2.5 m;
Watering. The drip system is a design that includes a tank for accumulating water and adding fertilizers, distribution pipes and tapes with holes that supply liquid directly to the roots;
Heating. It is impossible to realize the business idea of growing strawberries all year round without heating the greenhouse complex. For these purposes, heat generators, furnaces or hot water boilers of sufficient power are used;
Ventilation. For the development of plants, it is necessary to provide an influx of fresh air. In winter, it must be heated by passing through heat exchangers with hot water, and in summer it must be filtered from insects and dust.

In order for the farmer to get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe upcoming costs and not forget about some important equipment that is necessary for growing strawberries at home, the greenhouse business plan should contain a detailed specification:

Equipment for growing strawberries

Name	price, rub.	Quantity, pcs.	Amount, rub.
Greenhouse
Greenhouse 23.4 x 7.5 m	282200	1	282200
Vertical bed for 7 boxes 1.2 m	5900	64	377600
Heating and ventilation
Gas boiler 100 kW	183500	1	183500
heating pipe	60	150 m	9000
Shut-off valves	6000	–	6000
Radiator 4.3 kW steel	7200	18	129600
Axial fan 10000 m³/h	13800	2	27600
Water heat exchanger	9900	2	19800
circulation pump	4400	2	8800
Filter	3500	2	7000
Lighting
Electrical equipment and cables	10000	–	10000
LED lamp 100 W 13600 lm	6300	32	201600
Watering
Storage tank 2 m³	15600	1	15600
Well	22000	1	22000
Well piping	75600	1	75600
irrigation pipe	60	15 m	900
drip tape	3	600 m	1800
Other equipment
Refrigerator 2 m³	52500	1	52500
garden tools	10000	–	10000
Soil meter	13500	1	13500
Thermohygrometer	1500	2	3000
Cargo minibus	360000	1	360000
Total:			1817600

How to sell strawberries?

Even in the refrigerator, fresh berries can be stored for no more than a week, and therefore, as a business, growing strawberries for sale makes sense only if there are constant distribution channels. Accordingly, even before installing the greenhouse, the farmer should think about who he will sell the crop to. There are several ways:

Own outlet. If you set up a kiosk or pavilion somewhere in a crowded place, you can sell strawberries all year round. To equip the place of trade, you will have to buy refrigerators and hire a distributor;
Grocery stores. First of all, you need to pay attention to retail outlets with vegetable showcases. But there are many such stores, so the business plan for growing strawberries should involve the creation of a transport department;
Network shops. To work with supermarkets like Pyaterochka, you need to start packing products in small trays and ensure regular deliveries of the agreed volume of berries. Their appearance must be impeccable;
Wholesalers. This method of marketing is known to all farmers - from livestock breeders to those involved. As a rule, resellers take any product, but demand big discounts;
Processing enterprises. If there are manufacturers of jams, juices and confectionery fillings in the region, you can negotiate with them on supplies. They also don't pay much attention appearance berries;
Agricultural markets. Of course, strawberries are something if you rent several places at once. But it is difficult to sell large volumes in this way, and there is nowhere to store a supply of berries.

Business plan for growing strawberries

Running a greenhouse farm cannot be compared to growing strawberries in an apartment: a business of this magnitude requires a significant investment, comparable to investing in a small manufacturing facility. Starting costs include:

Investments in greenhouses

In addition to the initial investment, the profitability of growing strawberries in a greenhouse as a business is important for a novice entrepreneur. To evaluate it, you need to calculate the average annual expenses of the enterprise. In particular:

The period of growth and fruiting of remontant varieties is 150–170 days. This means that two cycles of plantation renewal can be carried out in a year;
To fill 64 beds (7 boxes each), 1344 bushes are needed. The cost of seedlings of "frigo" remontant varieties is an average of 40-50 rubles per piece;
Together with the plants in the greenhouse, the depleted soil is also changed. For the same 64 beds, you need to buy or prepare 7.5 m³ of compost;
A 100 kW boiler burns an average of 4 m³ of gas per hour. For heating the complex for six months, 17280 m³ of gas are needed;
The total energy consumption of 32 LED lamps is 3.2 kW per hour. When they are turned on in winter for 4 hours daily, the consumption for the season will be 2304 kW.

The calculations of the annual expenses of the farm necessary for drawing up a business plan for growing strawberries are given below:

Annual costs of the complex

Article	Winter, rub.	Summer, rub.	Amount, rub.
KFH contributions	18120	18180	36240
Account maintenance	3000	3000	6000
Electricity	13800	6200	20000
Gas for heating	82000	0	82000
greenhouse soil	6650	6650	13300
Seedling	67200	67200	134400
fertilizers	13500	13500	27000
Household expenses	8000	8000	16000
Container for strawberries	18800	18800	37600
Registration of the declaration	2500	2500	5000
fuel and lubricants	36000	36000	72000
Total:			449540

Profitability of growing strawberries

Is it profitable to grow strawberries all year round? The characteristics of the varieties suggest that one bush is quite capable of bringing up to 1.6 kg of berries in four fruiting waves. Statistics show that in January a kilogram of strawberries costs 500-800 rubles, and in June - up to 130 rubles. So you can calculate the total income:

Income from growing strawberries

Index	Winter	Summer
Yield, kg/bush	1,6	1,6
Price, rub./kg	500	125
Revenue from the bush, rub.	800	200
Bushes, pcs.	1344	1344
Total revenue, rub.	1075200	268800

Consequently, the farmer's annual income will be 1,344,000 rubles at a cost of 449,540 rubles. In open ground, the profitability of growing strawberries as a business may be higher, but in terms of profit per square meter, these activities are not comparable. As for the payback period of investments, it slightly exceeds two years:

Profitability of growing strawberries

Conclusion

Growing strawberries is beneficial in any way. But a farmer who wants to cultivate it in the open field must understand that he will have to fight for buyers not only with summer residents, but also with agricultural corporations that allocate hundreds of hectares of fields for this crop and use heavy equipment to process them. The greenhouse, on the other hand, allows you to avoid competition and enter the market in winter, when the prices for berries reach their maximum. If you master the intricacies of agricultural technology and find distribution channels, then it is quite possible to secure a stable income for years to come.