How to Get Rich Picking Apples (and Cherries): The Juicy Truth Behind Pick-Your-Own Farms

In partnership with

By Sherry Sanchez

Ever thought about ditching your desk job to become the next Johnny Appleseed, raking in cash while families pay you to do your harvesting for you? Welcome to the wild world of Pick-Your-Own (PYO) fruit farms-a business model so delightfully simple, you’ll wonder if it was invented by a genius or someone who just really hates ladders.

First a word from our sponsor:

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.

Sign up and start learning AI

Let’s peel back the layers, shall we?

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Money Tree

First, the facts: The average direct-market apple orchard in the Midwest pulls in about $8,226 per acre, with the overachievers raking in up to $16,630. That’s right, you could be making more per acre than your neighbor’s AirBnB-without having to wash anyone’s sheets. Of course, you’ll spend about $5,900 per acre on growing and picking (well, supervising the picking, since your customers are doing the heavy lifting). That leaves an average profit of $2,324 per acre, assuming Mother Nature doesn’t decide to throw a hailstorm party on your crop.

But before you start dreaming of buying an island with your apple money, remember: most PYO operators still have to keep their day jobs. The return on investment? A spicy 1.2% to 6%. Not exactly “buy your own yacht” territory, but hey, at least you’re not stuck in a cubicle listening to Karen from accounting complain about her cat’s gluten allergy.

Cherries, Berries, and the Sweet Smell of Customer Labor

Cherries and strawberries? Same deal, just with more Instagrammable stains on your customers’ shirts. These crops can bring in even higher gross returns per acre, but they’re also divas-more sensitive to weather, disease, and the existential threat of toddlers with sticky fingers.

And if you’re thinking, “I’ll go organic and charge even more!”-congratulations, you’ve just signed up for three years of paperwork and lower yields before you can slap that organic sticker on your fruit. But if you survive, you might just snag those sweet, sweet 40% price premiums.

The Real Secret: Make Your Farm a Destination

Here’s where the Codie Sanchez playbook kicks in: don’t just sell fruit, sell an experience. Diversify with pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, and farm-fresh donuts. Turn your orchard into the Disneyland of produce. The more families you lure in with the promise of wholesome fun (and the threat of their kids going feral at home), the more cash you’ll stack.

Risks? Oh, Just the Usual-Weather, Lawsuits, and Rogue Goats

Of course, there are risks. Bad weather can wipe out your harvest, and you’ll need insurance in case someone’s Uncle Bob tries to sue you after tripping over a root while chasing his runaway toddler. But hey, nobody said the path to Main Street millionaire status was paved with cider and pie.

Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

If you love the outdoors, don’t mind a little unpredictability, and think “child wrangler” sounds like a fun side gig, PYO farming can be a profitable (and hilarious) way to make money. Just don’t quit your day job-unless your day job is even less fun than cleaning up after a busload of preschoolers on a field trip.

Want more juicy business breakdowns and spicy takes on Main Street moneymaking? Subscribe to Canamericanews.com and follow us on Instagram, X, and YouTube. Because who says you can’t laugh all the way to the bank?