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 <[email protected]> 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 [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
