I'd like to reply as an apple consumer, and as someone who ate a lot of fruit in u-pick orchards as a kid, and as someone who thinks of herself as an honest person.
If your customers are eating fruit as they talk to you, they don't think they are stealing. And perhaps you shouldn't think they are, either. There are different types of pick-your-own places, but in most cases, they are selling an experience more than they selling fruit. Eating fruit transforms a u-pick experience into something much more enjoyable than a trip to the market to buy fruit. I would suggest you seriously consider building a charge for fruit consumed on-site into your fees, and allowing your customers to do it. Think of it as similar to providing a salad bar at a restaurant rather than as theft. As an adult, I go both to places that tell me prominently not to eat the fruit (or put tight limits on what is allowed) and to places that don't do that. As an honest person, I follow the rules. But I only go to the places with restrictions if they offer a product I can't buy at a store. I would never bother to bring my kids to those places. What would be the point? I understand that in some parts of the country there are u-pick places where the "extra" they offer is lower prices than a store. That's a different market, and if that is why your customer comes, it's not unreasonable to restrict their grazing. But think about what experience you want to sell. Consider a charge per head, or by the hour, or require a minimum purchase per person in the field so that you get enough revenue. But consider ways to make your customer want to come back and repeat an enjoyable experience. Ginda Fisher Apple consumer -- Typed with Swype. Who knows what I meant to say? On October 6, 2014 10:08:22 AM EDT, Mark & Helen Angermayer <angermay...@gmail.com> wrote: >Steven, > >I think your sign is a tasteful way to do it, and will probably work >for most people. > >Just as different perspective, I've got a very small orchard (only >about 300 peach trees and a few plums and apples) and I give away a >lot fruit. I charge enough to be able to give away some to each >customer. I sell them #1s at a fair price and "throw in" some seconds >for free. It makes my customers feel like they are being treated >special (which is what I try to do) and makes me feel good too. > >I also cut up lots of free samples for my customers. It makes for >good experience for the customer. When they have a good experience, >they come back. > >Many years ago (before I knew anything about fruit) my wife took me to >a U-pick strawberry. I didn't want to go, but she told me (or showed >me) you eat strawberries, while you pick. I guess you might say she >taught me "theft". I never viewed it as theft, but assumed the grower >charged enough to compensate for my eating. I thought it was just >part of the experience. Had I thought the grower considered it theft, >I wouldn't have eaten any berries while picking, but also may not have >ever gone to the U-pick in the first place, since part of the >experience of U-pick is eating some fruit while picking. I'll also >mention I consider myself a fairly honest person (I don't cheat >people, don't cheat on my taxes, try to treat others like I'd like to >be treated, etc). > >You can take what I say w/ a grain of salt, since I haven't offered >U-pick. But I don't think it would bother me if people ate their >lunch from my trees while picking their fruit for purchase. They are >probably not going to eat more than a couple pounds of fruit, which is >about the average amount I give away anyway. > >If they brought their family in and fed their family from the fruit, >then left without buying anything (or much of anything) that would >upset me. In that case, they are not treating others like they would >want to be treated. > >Mark Angermayer >Tubby Fruits > > > > > >On 10/6/14, Steven Bibula <sbib...@maine.rr.com> wrote: >> A few U-Pick customers are so brazen about their theft that they eat >> berries >> and apples freely in front of me while coming out of the field toward >the >> register. I also see them positively gorging in the field, as if >this were >> an AUCE establishment (we charge by the picked pound). I am also >troubled >> that the most visible offenders are adults with children, teaching >those >> children that theft is okay. >> >> >> >> What do you do to deter theft and improve moral conduct? As a part >of our >> effort to awaken the conscience of our customers without offending or >> implicating those who are already self controlled, we are considering >> posting the following text on a tasteful sign at appropriate an >location or >> two. >> >> >> >> Feedback from you is welcome. Other ideas are welcome too. >> >> >> >> TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS: >> >> Please feel free to taste the fruit so you can pick with confidence. >> Because >> our fruit is also our livelihood, we ask that you please limit >yourselves >> and members of your party to a small sample, and enjoy the rest after >> payment. Thank you for your understanding and business! With your >help, we >> can continue to provide enjoyable U-Pick experiences for years to >come. >> >> Gratefully, >> >> The farmers- >> >> >> >> Steven Bibula >> >> Plowshares >> >> Gorham Maine >> >> >> >> >_______________________________________________ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
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