The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association (NARBA) is conducting a survey to learn more about caneberry pricing and retail strategies for 2020, as well as the impacts of COVID-19. Information collected in the survey will be used to gain a better understanding of the marketing, pricing, and sales strategies currently being used by caneberry producers across the United States and Canada. While results through late June have been analyzed and published, we are keeping the survey open through the fall to collect additional responses. A report will also be emailed to all participants who request this option.
The survey focuses primarily on pricing for direct-to-consumer sales — pick-your-own, farm stands, and farmers markets– as these are most within the control of the grower, while wholesale and processing prices tend to be set by the buyer or subject to larger market forces. Growers who have not yet settled on their 2020 prices could report 2019 prices or their best estimates.
NARBA has conducted surveys like this every other year for a number of years — someone still requests the report of our 2018 survey almost every week. In these unsettled and challenging pandemic times, NARBA is pleased to offer an opportunity for growers to share information and assist each other. This survey is being conducted collaboration with researchers at North Carolina State University, who have provided expertise in survey design and will conduct analysis of the results.
The survey should only take around 10 minutes to complete. Participation is completely voluntary. Your responses will be recorded anonymously and no identifying personal information will be collected within the survey. You are free to refuse to participate in the research and to stop completing the survey at any time.
If you have any questions about the survey itself, please contact Dr. Tregeagle by email at tregeagle@ncsu.edu or by phone at (919) 515-6091. In addition, you can contact the NC State IRB Office via email at irb-director@ncsu.edu or via phone at (919) 515-8754. You may also contact NARBA by email at raspberryblackberry@gmail.com, or by phone at 919-542-4037.
