Enterprise Analysis

In addition to presenting current best recommendations regarding the production, processing, and marketing aspects of kiwiberries, a key objective of this guide is to provide an informed enterprise analysis to aid prospective regional growers as they consider whether or not to integrate this novel crop into their production systems. Just as a consumer survey was conducted to assess kiwiberry demand, consumer preferences, and willingness-to-pay (see Appendix III), a detailed producer survey was carried out to understand the true costs of production. Unfortunately, although kiwiberries have been grown by hobbyists in the northeast for many decades, there are extremely few commercial producers in the region; and those operations that do exist are either very small-scale (< 10 vines), not intensively managed for production, and/or only recently established.

The nearest intensively-managed commercial operation with a documented history of production data is Kiwi Korners Farm in Danville, PA. Thus this enterprise analysis relies heavily on data generously provided by Kiwi Korners, adjusted and complemented where possible based on feedback from small-scale northeast growers and experiences to date in the NHAES program. In aggregate, these data are used to estimate the establishment timeline, production costs, and yields that prospective growers can reasonably expect from current varieties. Paired with consumer willingness-to-pay data from the statewide market survey (see Regional Market Analysis), this enterprise analysis provides an estimate of profitability as well as time to return-on-investment.