Harvesting for ProfitA “Small” Scale Vegetable Harvest System

Kent and Ruth CoatesNature’s Route Farm785 Route 16Point de Bute, NB E4L 2P1(506) 536-3562naturerf@nb.sympatico.cahttp://naturesroutefarm.ca

1. Background

2. Needs Assessment3. Our System similar to “Lean” = reduce waste

4. Picking Systems

5. Discussion

Nature’s Route Farm

Outline

Nature’s Route Farm

Background1. Farming Full Time for 2 Years (Mechanical Engineer)

2. Direct Market a. CSA (52 week)

b. Farmer’s Market

3. Growing Businessa. Tripled in 2nd Year and will Double in 3rd Year

b. Started with 1.2 Acres 4+ Acres planned for 2009

Nature’s Route Farm

Needs Assessment1. Identify YOUR Requirements

a. From the Consumer’s Perspectiveb. From a Resource Perspective

2. Our Farma. Fresh (hour old) produce with minimized packaging - HIGHEST

QUALITY

b. One Person, Minimal Infrastructure, Fast, Safe, Quality (harder as you get more employees)

How OLD is your produce when you sell it?

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

White Board

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

2. Quality – QA in field a. Time of Day

b. Weather

c. Handling

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

2. Quality – QA in field - time of day – weather - handling

3. Food Safety – Segregation, Constantly Mindful

-Have a Plan

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

2. Quality – QA in field - time of day – weather - handling

3. Food Safety – Segregation, Constantly Mindful

4. Mobile Vegetable Stand – Pack and GO!!!

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

2. Quality – QA in field - time of day – weather - handling

3. Food Safety – Segregation, Constantly Mindful4. Mobile Vegetable Stand – Pack and GO!!!

5. No Packaging – sell produce “bulk” – find a way to make it fast

Nature’s Route Farm Our System

1. Get Organized – Pick Just the Right Stuff!!!

2. Quality – QA in field - time of day – weather - handling

3. Food Safety – Segregation, Constantly Mindful4. Mobile Vegetable Stand – Pack and GO!!!

5. No Packaging – sell produce “bulk” – find a way to make it fast

Constantly ImproveAsk Why?

Remove Processes

Improve Quality

Prioritize – use $ as a guide

-“Just in Time”

Nature’s Route Farm Picking System

Lettuce

Nature’s Route Farm Picking System

Carrots/Beets/Parsnips

We top our Carrots now (100cm stem)

Nature’s Route Farm Picking System

Potatoes

Nature’s Route Farm Picking System

Dried Beans – think twice…

Nature’s Route Farm Eggs

Mobile Coops (aspiration and reality)

Nesting Boxes

Nature’s Route Farm Picking System

Everything Else (no pictures)

Corn

Broccoli

Beans (green)

Onions

Swiss Chard

Vines (cucumber/squash/pumpkin)

Storage Vegetables (root crops)

Picking Schedule

Discussion