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  • From: "William Barry" <unclebil AT bright.net>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: market-farming Working CSA Shares
  • Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 07:15:03 -0500


Robert

You are right. Value-added is the way to go. and grow. We opened a cannery
on the farm last year as well as a website. To supplement our products we
added those of several local cottage industries.

In October our site count was below 6,000; we are now hitting close to
19,000. Not great but they are finding us. and buying. Not only our
products but those of friends.

If we had to live off the proceeds of our garden, we would have lost the
farm. We went into the cannery rather than throw "leftovers" away.
Granted it took us 6 months but it's been worth it.

We are not making millions but it just keeps growing and growing.

By the way, any of you who are certified organic in Ohio and have
"culls"/No. 2's we are interested. No matter how much we grow our cannery
needs more. Veggies and fruit.

Back on topic, look what you are doing and "giving" away....there could be a
way to become an "expert" in it. We are to speak to a local gardening club
in March on Organics; we were interviewed by a Chicago Magazine last summer
over the phone; the Atlanta Constitution mentioned our website in a small
article on Dec 28.

Like I said it's growing...

Bill & Linda Barry
Barry Farm
http://www.barryfarm.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Farr" <rbfarr AT erols.com>
To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: market-farming Working CSA Shares


> Crystal:
>
> I think the only way any of us can make money farming is to create a
> value-added product. My wife and I grow chile peppers - we picked more
> than 200,000 last year - but don't sell produce. Instead, we
> manufacture hot sauce and salsa (and a few other things, like mustards
> and bbq sauce). We made virtually nothing in 2000 - we had lots of
> "start-up" expenses, like food processors, a trade show booth (for wine
> festivals and other fairs), and certification fees - but should make
> quite a bit this year, as we should not have these recurring expenses.
>
> Next, I'll push into retail, because doing 30 fairs a year will kill
> ya! (BTW, we also have events at the farm - two last year; four this
> year. They are very profitable, though it takes some money - like a
> direct mail piece - to get people to come. Our snail mail list is over
> 1,200 people, so it can get pretty pricey. We also have an e-mail list
> of around 800 - much cheaper!)
>
> I don't see how any of us can make it selling produce - competing
> against the overseas market with its exceptionally cheap labor. That
> said, I am going to try and sell some of our "extra" produce at a local
> farm market! Don't know I'll make much dough, but I see it as a way to
> not let things go to waste. I still remember the year I had to add 39
> heads of Mascara lettuce to the compost pile!
>
> How many of you are moving to - or trying to move to - value-added?
>
> --
> Robert Farr
> (540) 668-7160
> Check out http://www.chileman.com
> for ALL Natural Cooking & Grilling Sauces!
>
>
>
> ---
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