Prices for near-organic orchard-fresh apples?

[elanorh]

Soooo.....

Last year I picked apples at the orchard of a neighbor of my parents. He's elderly and planted a HUGE apple orchard with all sorts of heirloom and heritage type apples years ago. It was amazing.

I mentioned this at the meeting at the CSA that I belong to awhile ago, and they asked me to check with him and see whether some of the CSA members could purchase apples from him that I could haul back here this fall after a visit to my parents.

I spoke to the orchard owner today and I suspect he gave me the "friend of the family" discount with the price he quoted. Remember, while not 100% organic, he uses mostly organic methods and these are amazing apples -- he said he'd charge $1.50 per pound (they'd pick them for us too).

I swear the apples I bought at the store (organic) last week were $2.20/pound.

I told him I think he's setting his price too low, and he asked me how much he should charge, then ....

What do you think is a reasonable price for him to charge? He said he'd give part of the money to me for organizing this all (and transporting it), although I hadn't asked for that (dh thinks that would be great because it IS going to be inconvenient to haul the apples that far in our vehicle, plan the space for all the boxes, additional gas costs etc.).....

Thanks for the guidance/suggestions, folks!

[blueridgewoman]

I think that sounds about right, honestly. It's probably more than he can get if he harvests and sells to a grocery store, you know?

[tbone_kneegrabber]

$1.50/lb is usually what they are at the farmer's market around here. The grocery store price is the apple price+grocery store profit.