| Estimated Cost |
Up to $8,000 per acre establishment; $1,000 per acre annual operating; 3 to 4 years to first harvest; harvest season June to August |
| Market Outlets |
Local sales, farmers markets, roadside, pick-your-own |
| Market Potential |
Poor, due to low color and soft fruit |
| Profit Potential |
Unknown |
| Adapted Areas |
Mainly areas north of I-10 and mountains of West Texas |
| Labor Requirements |
Low to high depending on production system used |
| Equipment Requirements |
Tractor, air blast sprayer, herbicide applicatior |
| Soil Requirements |
Acid to neutral, sandy loam soil |
| Water Requirements |
4 gallons per minute per acre |
| Minimum Size |
1/2 to 5 acres |
| Risk Factor |
High |
| Other Limiting Factors |
High temperatures prevents good color development and generally leadsto soft fruit. Cotton root rot limits commercial production in most of Texas. Hail is a limitation in West and Centeral Texas. |
| Comments |
Consider apples only as a specialty crop for local sales because color and quality do not ususally meet standards from northern states; however, flavor is good because tree-ripened fruit is better. |
