Berry and asparagus producer in Norfolk says majority of profit comes from PYO crops due to no labour input costs
A Norfolk fruit and veg grower has said almost three quarters of the farm’s profit comes from Pick Your Own berry crops due to the high cost of labour.
Emma and Charlie Tacon run Tacon Farm, near Great Yarmouth, from where they supply the East of England Co-op, run a farm shop and PYO business.
They grow potatoes, onions, asparagus and strawberries on a commercial scale, as well as the PYO berry crops.
Tacon told BBC News that 70 per cent of the business’s profits were generated through PYO strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries, despite using only 10 per cent of the farm’s land.
“We’ve got 20 acres of pick-your-own and there’s no labour input from us and labour is a big cost. That makes it very profitable,” she told the BBC.
While also saving the pair labour costs, consumers also benefit as the price of the PYO blackberries is £6.30 per kg, compared to £17 per kg if ready picked.
