Hello!
There is a little known tool used in measuring a particular crop's profit contribution to the farm business called the Enterprise Budget. The idea is to document all the costs associated with growing a given subject crop over the entire season, and then measuring the total cost against the gross revenue to determine the profit value to the farm. The list is extremely detailed including how much time spent watering, weeding, harvest time and marketing, in addition to how much of the liability insurance, the mortgage interest, and electricity used! However effective this information is, the effort takes dedication, and most proponents say measure 1-3 crops per year. This year, I will measure two root crops; carrots and beets!
The reason that I raised the price of Spinach, that I was short $1.29/ pound! Now granted, part of the cost of my Spinach Crops is the slow way that I grow it, the smaller and younger leafs that I prefer, and the fact that we don't use a mechanical harvester. But that's just me, and my farm. I am certainly open to a large wholesale customer at a lower price who doesn't mind chopped and bruised product! Another example: four years ago I discovered that the absolute best that I had done on Sweet Corn, was minus 7 cents per ear! Now, I am only too happy to grow a little corn for early distribution, and let my good friend Armon in Grand Ledge grow the main season at a fair price with a few tomatoes thrown in and maybe some melons!
This week I am at the Family Fare parking lot in Eaton Rapids on Wednesday at 12:oo noon, and the Allen Street Indoor Farmers Market after that, 3:00--6:00. Thursday afternoon is farm pick up, and Saturday I am in the parking lot behind Flour Child Bakery in Grand Ledge, 11:00--12:00 noon. I hope to see you soon!
