“No matter how successful your business is right now, you should survey the apple industry today and what it will be in the future,” said DeMarree.

“The keys to success depend on both the financial aspects of your operation, including cash flow equity and profitability as well as your personal outlook,” she said. DeMarree is a Cornell area Extension coordinator and co-owner of DeMarree Fruit Farms Inc.

A member of Cornell’s Lake Ontario Fruit Team, specializing in business management, the speaker based her observations on experiences gained conducting the Annual Fruit Farm Business Summary. Working with fruit operations, the study analyzes investment, cost, production, income, labor use and debt management. She also conducts studies to determine the cost of replanting orchards, the cost of growing and harvesting various fruits and the cost of storage construction.