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Social Media Saves Farm From Berry Bonanza
24 Jul
Summary
- Farmer's social media appeal attracted unprecedented customer numbers.
- Unusually fast fruit ripening due to heatwaves threatened business.
- The farm experienced its busiest hour ever after a Facebook post.
The power of social media has been credited with saving a local farm business from a significant challenge. Arscott Farm in Shrewsbury faced a crisis when unseasonably hot weather caused its strawberry crop to ripen far quicker than anticipated.
Owner Joe Hamer turned to Facebook, posting an urgent appeal for customers to visit for strawberry picking. This plea was widely shared, resulting in an extraordinary surge of visitors on Thursday morning. The farm experienced its busiest hour ever, with customer numbers tripling compared to the previous day.
Hamer emphasized that without social media, the business would struggle, especially with soft fruits that have a very short shelf life. He noted that while managing customer expectations is crucial, the online platform proved invaluable for reaching enough people to harvest and sell the produce during its prime.
Despite the difficulties in managing crop growth under consistent heat, Hamer confirmed it has been a good season overall. The elevated temperatures have also contributed to sweeter fruit, offering a positive outcome from the challenging weather conditions.
