Are you interested in growing goji berries?
These little gems are easy to grow and can be harvested for a tasty snack or sold as part of your own small organic farm.
What’s more, they are packed with antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients that can help prevent diseases like cancer and promote overall good health.
Here’s everything you need to know to get started:
What are Goji Berries?
Goji berries are native to Asia and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Today, they’re enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to the many health benefits they offer.
They are most commonly found in dried form and are reddish-brown in color with small black seeds in the center.
There are four main varieties of goji berry, including the red-seeded (Wolfberry), yellow-seeded (Himalayan), and black-seeded (Chinese) varieties.
The yellow seed variety is the most popular type in the U.S. today, while the red-seeded and black-seed varieties are primarily grown in Asia.
Some experts also believe that these varieties offer slightly different health benefits. As a result, you may want to experiment with different varieties to see which you like best.
Goji berries are typically used in desserts, juice blends, cereals, and baked goods, or can be eaten raw as a healthy snack.
They’re quite versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes to add a unique flavor and healthy boost to your favorite dishes.
In recent years, they’ve become more popular as Paleo-friendly superfoods that can be used to replace processed junk foods and sugary snacks.
How Much Money Can You Make Selling Goji Berries?
If you grow organic goji berries, you can sell them for as much as $30 a pound.
This price will vary depending on where you live and the demand for your product.
In some parts of the country, you may be able to charge more due to higher demand.
Conversely, if you live in an area where there is no demand for your berries, you won’t be able to sell them for very much money.
It’s important to do your research and determine where you can find the best market for your products before you start planting.
Many farmers sell their produce to distributors or retailers who sell it directly to the public.
Growing Goji Berries for Profit
Goji berries require a bit of a specialized environment to grow successfully.
While they will grow outdoors in warmer climates, they prefer to be planted in a sunny spot with well-drained soil that’s been amended with organic matter.
They also prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
Once you’ve planted your goji bushes, you should give them plenty of water and compost on a regular basis to help them thrive.
It’s a good idea to use mulch to help minimize weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
Ideally, you’ll want to harvest your goji berries in late fall or early winter when they have reached their peak flavor.
Once the berries have been harvested, it’s important to keep them fresh by storing them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them.
How to Grow Goji Berries Step-by-Step
If you’d like to know exactly how to grow goji berries for profit, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Start with the Soil
Goji Berries require nutrient-dense soil in order to thrive.
When you plant the goji berry bush, you want to add organic compost to the soil so that it helps retain moisture and nutrients for the plant to thrive.
You can also add a layer of straw or wood chips to help keep the soil moist and prevent weed growth.
Step 2: Plant the Bush
Each goji berry bush typically grows to about six feet in height and has a small number of branches.
The bush produces small yellow flowers in the spring which turn into bright red berries in the fall. You should plant at least two bushes per grow site for best results.
When the plants are fully established, you can let them continue to grow on their own or you can prune them back to encourage the production of more berries.
Step 3: Harvest the Berries
Once the first berries are ripe on the bush, you should be able to start harvesting them for personal use.
You’ll want to wait until the fall before you begin harvesting so that you can catch the berries at their full flavor and nutritional potential.
Step 4: Begin Selling Your Produce
Once you have plenty of goji berries to harvest, you can begin selling them for profit.
Some people choose to sell them at a local farmer’s market while others choose to set up a stand in their front yard or advertise online through sites like Etsy or eBay.
Tips For Growing Goji Berries
Keep these pointers in mind as you grow your first Berries:
- Make sure that you have the proper tools before you start planting the goji berry bush in your garden.
Having the right gardening supplies will make it much easier for you to prepare the soil and to plant the seeds in the proper location.
- Don’t forget to water the plants regularly throughout the growing season to help them thrive and to produce a good harvest of berries at the end of the season.
- When looking for the right place to plant your goji berry bush, it is important to select an area that has good drainage and sun exposure.
Poorly drained soil can lead to mold and mildew growth and is less likely to produce a good crop of berries.
Similarly, plants that receive too much shade will not thrive and produce as many berries as those that are grown in full sun.
- While you can put a fruiting bush in just about any type of soil, it is generally best to choose a location that has sandy loam or sandy soil that drains well.
- To ensure that your plants remain healthy throughout the growing season, it is important to fertilize them on a regular basis.
This will ensure that they produce an abundant crop of berries for you to enjoy later on in the season.
- Prune the plants when they are young to encourage strong growth and the development of strong branches that will provide better support for the fruit as it matures.
- Once you have harvested all of the goji berries, clean them by washing them in cool water to remove any dirt and debris that accumulated on them during the growing season.
Marketing and Selling Your Goji Berries
If you have a solid customer base and you’re planning on making goji berries a long-term investment for your business, you may want to consider starting a wholesale business.
This will allow you to sell your berries at a much lower cost, which will ultimately increase your profit margin.
Start by setting up a website where people can purchase your goji berries directly from the company.
You can also create a Facebook page to promote your products and connect with prospective customers in your area.
You can even send out a brochure to local businesses to let them know about your new business and the products you offer.
Other ways to sell your goji berries include selling them at local farmer’s markets or setting up your own booth at fairs and festivals in your area.
You can even set up a roadside stand where you sell your goji berries to passersby.
A great way to attract customers to your booth is to offer free samples of your goji berries so that they will want to come back and make a purchase later on.
Just make sure that you keep the samples in a highly visible location so that people can see them when they come into your booth.
Selling your goji berries online is another great way to grow your business and increase your sales.
Depending on your needs, you can sign up for one or more e-commerce platforms that will allow you to sell your goji berries to people all over the world.
Some of the most popular e-commerce platforms for sellers of natural products include Amazon and Etsy.
You may also want to consider using eBay to sell your goji berries if your products are unique and difficult to find elsewhere.
If you decide to sell your goji berries online, you will need to set up a shipping system that will allow you to get your products to your customers quickly and efficiently.
As you grow your online store, you will be able to expand your reach and attract new customers from around the world.
Another way to grow your business and increase sales is by offering your customers coupon codes they can use to save money on their next purchase.
To set up these discounts, you will need to work with a discount provider like Groupon or LivingSocial so that you can advertise them on your website and social media pages.
Final Thoughts
Goji Berries are a great business opportunity because they are in high demand in countries around the world and have potent health benefits that are in high demand.
With a little research and some hard work and dedication, you should be able to grow a successful and profitable business in no time!
To learn about growing other types of plants for profit, head to our Homesteading Hub.