Pick Your Own: Profit, Pressure & People on Small Farms

Pick Your Own: Profit, Pressure & People on Small Farms

Author: NSW Local Land Services April 5, 2026 Duration: 44:01

What if you could add value to your farm without scaling production? In this episode, we explore pick-your-own as a diversification strategy—covering the realities, the opportunities, and what farmers need to know before opening the gate.

Key episode moments

(00:00) Is pick-your-own actually more profitable than wholesale?

(01:30) From city life to farming: buying a rundown blueberry farm with no experience

(04:30) COVID pivot: opening the gates and inviting the public in

(08:30) Why customers—not strategy—often drive the shift to PYO

(14:00) Burnout from farmers markets → “people are paying me to pick my fruit”

(15:30) Location matters—but people will travel for the experience

(17:30) The reality of customers: education, behaviour & managing expectations

(20:00) Does it stack up? Labour savings vs crop loss and margins

(29:30) Marketing that works: social media timing + a strong website

(41:30) Final advice: start small, ask for help, and know if it suits your personality


Read the full transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vvs2_PqBmqMlhXEjoZjc3Ul332DDtBl2/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true


Explore more from our guests below:

meliorafarm.com.au

cedarcreekorchards.com.au

higginscreekfarm.com.au


Want more info about our pick your own guide. Click the link below:

https://forms.gle/M4uShQbCU954w2JEA


If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.


Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.



Hosted by NSW Local Land Services, Big Shift For Small Farms-Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming is a conversation about the fundamental changes required in how we work the land. This podcast moves beyond theory, grounding each discussion in the real-world experiences of Australian farmers who are implementing regenerative practices. You’ll hear from those on the front lines-producers, researchers, and industry experts-as they share practical knowledge about holistic land management. The dialogue recognizes that a truly sustainable system connects everything, from the microbiology in the soil to the well-being of the people managing the landscape. These conversations are made possible by the Grow Love Project in partnership with NSW Local Land Services, supported by Australian Government funding. By listening, you join a community exploring how agricultural resilience is built, one small farm at a time. This podcast serves as a vital resource for anyone interested in the future of farming, offering honest insights and collaborative wisdom for a more regenerative path forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

Big Shift For Small Farms - Australian Agriculture and Regenerative Farming
Podcast Episodes
These farm planning tools could save you time and money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
You know that phrase if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Now, depending on which Wikipedia entry you read, either Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin or Aristotle or a bunch of other people said it. But the p…
Working with nature and environmental accounting on farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
#Agricultural production relies on natural ecosystems, but, the more we modify our landscapes, the less resilient they become, resulting in reduced production. Balancing the needs of both is crucial to meet the demands o…
Soil carbon and carbon farming opportunities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:08
Most of us know that increasing carbon in the soil has many benefits and with interest in carbon farming growing, our latest episode of The Big Shift Podcast explores how to increase carbon in the soil and the opportunit…
Working with weeds as indicators on farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:39
For most people, weeds are a dirty word. They’re often talked about as an undesirable plant in the wrong place. And whilst it's true that some species left unmanaged can cause ecological problems, what if weeds are actua…
Managing animal pests on farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:21
We have dramatically changed the landscape by digging dams, introducing feral animals and clearing native habitat. These actions have created the perfect environment for certain species to thrive including mice, foxes an…
Emerging Australian agricultural industries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
Small scale farmers are faced with a lot of pressures, from climate change on farm to competition in the marketplace. In this episode we’re hearing from farmers and producers about Australian made emerging opportunities,…