Elderberry Enterprise Analysis By Rose Wilson

John Hayden Model 250 row feet, 40 bushes (6x12 spacing) Establishment Expense Units $/unit Total Cuttings40$3.50$140 Shipping/Transportation Per Cutting40$0.50$20 Plastic Mulch (in feet)1200$0.10$ Staples for Plastic Mulch500$0.10$50 Amendments & Fertilizer Wood Chips (Yard) 1$12 Compost (Yards)1$50 Bird Netting300$4.05 $1,215 Bird Netting Hoops17$3 $51 Wood Chipper 16.5hp1$2,800 Total Establishment Investment $4,460

John Hayden Model 250 row feet, 40 bushes (6x12 spacing) Annual Operating Expense Units $/unit Total Cost of cuttings (10% annual replacement)4 $4 $16 Weed Control &/Or Fertilizer and Amendments Wood Chip Mulch (yards)1$12 Labor Setting Up and Tearing down netting4$10$40 Setting Up and Tearing down landscape fabric4$10$40 Pruning8$10$80 Mowing8$10$80 Making Wood Chips1$10 Harvesting1$10 Processing (de-stemming, washing, packing, freezing)6.25$10$63 Fuel, Oil, Gas1$3 Supplies Bags150$0.10$15 Utilities Electricity (for freezing and storing)200$0.50$100 Total Annual Operating Expense $468

John Hayden Model 250 row feet, 40 bushes (6x12 spacing) Total Capital Investment (Establishment and 2 Years Operating) $5,397

John Hayden Model Income Potential & Return On Investment Price per Pound$6.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$900$ $1,070$ $1,860$1, $2,400$1, $3,600$3,1324

1 Acre Based on Literature 605 bushes/acre (6x12 spacing) EstablishmentUnits$/UnitTotal Average Cost for Cuttings605$4$2,420 Shipping/Transportation Cost for Plants605$0.50$ Plastic Mulch (in feet)605$0.76$ Staples for Plastic Mulch1.2$50$60.09 Drip Irrigation605$0.28$ Planting Labor605$1.01$ Soil Samples2$60$120 White Clover/Buckwheat or Grass Seed Mix 605$0.66$ Amendments & Fertilizer Manure (Tons)6$70$420 Compost (Yards)145$50$7,260 Wood Ash (Tons)6$35$210 N Organic605$0.12$72.60 Bird Netting605$2$1,210 Bird Netting Hoops240$3$ Fresh Berry Washer and De-stemmer1$8,500 Total Establishment Investment $ 22,936

1 Acre Based on Literature Annual Operating ExpenseUnits$/UnitTotal Cost of cuttings (10% annual replacement)60.50 $4.50 $ Weed Control &/Or Fertilizer and Amendments Wood Chip Mulch (yards)48.4$10$484 Wood Chip Mulch Delivery Fee (flat fee)1$90 Pest Control Neem/Entrust/Pyganic; Netting or Traps for SWD Labor Setting Up and Tearing down netting60.5$10$605 Setting Up and Tearing down landscape fabric60.5$10$605 Pruning8$10$80 Mowing8$10$80 Harvesting121$10$1,210 Processing (de-stemming, washing, packing, freezing)67$10$ Fuel, Oil, Gas40$2.50$100 Repairs and Maintenance1$100 Distribution (car/travel, shipping) $0.00 Supplies 25 lb (5 gal) FDA approved Food Grade Buckets*242$3.79$ lb (5 gal) FDA approved Food Grade Bucket Lids*242$1.50$363 Bags Labels242$0.25$60.50 Sanitizer Organic Certification Rent for Washing, Drying, Freezing, Packing Facility Rent for Freezer2$40$80 Utilities Electricity (for freezing, storing, drying, de-stemming, grinding)61$0.15$8.77 Insurance Crop Insurance1$311 General Farm Insurance Property Tax1$79.50 Total Annual Operating Expense $6,118

1 Acre Based on Literature 605 bushes/acre (6x12 spacing) Total Capital Investment (Establishment and 2 Years Operating) $35,173

1 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment Price per Pound$2.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$4,538-$1,581N/A 4.46$5,397-$722N/A 7.75$9,378$3, $12,100$5, $18,150$12,0325

1 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment If Price per Pound$3.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$6,806$ $8,095$1, $14,066$7, $18,150$12, $27,225$21,1074

1 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment If Price per Pound$4.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$9,075$2, $10,793$4, $18,755$12, $24,200$18, $36,300$30,1823

5 Acre Based on Literature 605 bushes/acre (6x12 spacing) EstablishmentUnits$/UnitTotal Average Cost for Cuttings3025$4.00$12,100 Shipping/Transportation Cost for Plants3025$0.50$1, Plastic Mulch (in feet)3025$0.76$2,299 Staples for Plastic Mulch6.0$50$ Drip Irrigation3025$0.28$847 Planting Labor3025$1.01$3, Soil Samples2$60$120 White Clover/Buckwheat or Grass Seed Mix 3025$0.66$1, Amendments & Fertilizer Manure (Tons)30$70$2,100 Compost (Yards)726$50$36,300 Wood Ash (Tons)30$35$1,050 N Organic3025$0.12$363 Bird Netting3025$2$6,050 Bird Netting Hoops1202$3$3, Fresh Berry Washer and De-stemmer1$8,500 Total Establishment Investment $ 80,199

5 Acre Based on Literature Annual Operating ExpenseUnits$/UnitTotal Cost of cuttings (10% annual replacement) $4.50 $ 1, Weed Control &/Or Fertilizer and Amendments Wood Chip Mulch (yards)242$10.00 $ 2, Wood Chip Mulch Delivery Fee (flat fee)1$90.00 Pest Control Neem/Entrust/Pyganic; Netting or Traps for SWD Labor Setting Up and Tearing down netting302.5$10.00 $ 3, Setting Up and Tearing down landscape fabric302.5$10.00 $ 3, Pruning40$10.00 $ Mowing40$10.00 $ Harvesting605$10.00 $ 6, Processing (de-stemming, washing, packing, freezing)336$10.00 $ 3, Fuel, Oil, Gas200$2.50 $ Repairs and Maintenance5$ $ Laboratory Analysis $68.00 Distribution (car/travel, shipping) Supplies 25 lb (5 gal) FDA approved Food Grade Buckets*1210$3.79 $ 4, lb (5 gal) FDA approved Food Grade Bucket Lids*1210$1.50 $ 1, Bags Labels1210$0.25 $ Sanitizer Organic Certification Rent for Washing, Drying, Freezing, Packing Facility Rent for Freezer10$40.00 $ Utilities Electricity (for freezing, storing, drying, de-stemming, grinding)303$0.15 $ Insurance Crop Insurance5$ $ 1, General Farm Insurance Property Tax5$ $ 1, Total Annual Operating Expense $ 31,822

5 Acre Based on Literature 605 bushes/acre (6x12 spacing) Total Capital Investment (Establishment and 2 Years Operating) $143,843

5 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment Price per Pound$2.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$22,688-$9,135N/A 4.46$26,983-$4,839N/A 7.75$46,888$15, $60,500$28, $90,750$58,9284

5 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment If Price per Pound$3.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$34,031$2, $40,475$8, $70,331$38, $90,750$58, $136,125$104,3033

5 Acre Model (6x12 spacing) Income Potential & Return On Investment If Price per Pound$4.00 If Yield is X pounds Per Bush Gross Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Net Income/Yr 5 Acres Starting in Yr 3 Return On Investment (Years) 3.75$45,375$13, $53,966$22, $93,775$61, $121,000$89, $181,500$149,6783

Value Add Enterprise Analysis Elderberry Extract 8oz Gallons/Run8 oz Bottles/run Value Added Production Units $/unit Total elderberry extract (pure pressed juice) oz7680$0.47$3, lemon juice or vinegar (to increase acidity) oz1152$0.05$62.91 other ingredients (sugar, apple juice, etc) $0 jars, caps, labels, tamper-proof seals960$1.10$1,056 labor hr19$10$190 facilty rental (washing, pressing, heating, bottling) hr16$35$560 warehouse labeling rental rate hr3$10$30 acidified food Scheduled Process approval expenses1$200 shipping and distribution $0 sales and marketing materials and outreach $0 liability insurance1$500 Total Value Added Expense $6,209

Value Add Enterprise Analysis Elderberry Extract 8oz Gross Income Per 60 Gal Run Net Income Per 60 Gal Run Net Income Per 8oz Bottle Net Income Per # Berries $15,821$9,612$10$16 Average Price per 8oz Extract $16.48

Recommendations for new and existing growers If you can optimize yields and/or leverage direct market or value added sales: yes your elderberries can pay your taxes (and more)! However, this requires planning and preparation. – Good, well drained soil – Lots of amendments – Good weed control – Irrigation