Farm and Specialty Greens & Vegetable Business for sale

Farm description

Hello, Thank you for your interest in farming. It has been our passion for 24 years and we are ready to move on. Having been in business that long we have produced on 10 acres from heritage and ethnic seeds with a focus on Odd, Unusual, Heritage, Ethnic and Healthy only high value products where we are in control of the price. Our customers have been high end restaurants, farmers market and retail stores in both Edmonton & Calgary. We have run a unique CSA in both cities with an unusual restaurant CSA as well. You will find that all we do fits in with Odd and Unusual. Currently, we produce our Signature Product, Mixed Heritage Greens year-round as well as microgreens/sprouts and limited herbs. Outdoors we have much more available and do upwards of 50 types of greens, not lettuces, with no competition on any of this product in 24 years! Winters in the greenhouse we are limited to producing for only 1 multiday farmers market and about 12 types of greens. There is room to expand to a 2nd greenhouse by converting another barn, if we were younger, we would do so as demand it high. Outdoors we grow many interesting root crops with a packed, intensive, approach. Again, we have had no competition in what we do as we also focus on baby. The roots are stored in our refrigeration units of which we have many more that we need. We put together interesting packs from soup to mashed, roasting, stew and singles with all seasoning necessary for an amazing meal seasoned with our heritage vegetables where each color has a distinct flavor to greens/sprouts/herbs in a culinary adventure. We give recipes for everything as we have much experience from working with Chefs to having so much amazing products available over the years with a favorite being how to make a perfect stock and difference between it and a bone broth. Why so much refrigeration? Up until 2016 we pasture raised duck, goose, guinea fowl, Cornish game hen and turkeys feeding only peas and barley. We had upwards of 150 different interesting products from these birds from charcuterie to bones, tongues, and innards. Again, no competition to date. Duck Eggs, we were it in Alberta producing duck eggs and there is no one else. Over 16 years we created a huge demand with customers from those with allergies/sensitivities to those following an alkaline diet to chefs and bakers who prefer an alkaline eggs loft to acidic chicken eggs. Our product line was so sought after that in 2016 we were set to market our greens and roots through TGP which supplies COOP stores in Western Canada. To do so we needed to grow and sought an investor as we needed more land. The investor staged a hostile takeover, lost the TGP contract and went bankrupt. Thus, we restarted but without the birds and at a level that we are comfortable managing on our own with some help. We have an unusual CSA that earns food credits and have many helpers through this program as well as WWOOFers and Canada Summer Job Students and school groups. The demand is much higher than we are willing or able at this time in our lives. Our girls are not interested in continuing the business and we are ready to move on. Below is an excerpt from our weekly customers Newsletter as well as our MLS listing if this opportunity intrigues you. MISSION: We produce naturally, with our duck compost and non traditional/heritage seeds. New everything has been bred to grow big and quick and equal in size. In vegetables and greens they have been bred to also have thick skins and thick textures. All to be machine harvested, transported long distances, travel and store without refrigeration to sit on store shelves. Why is tractor use a concern? They leave petroleum distillates and rubber/ chemicals etc from tires in your ground, we use them for working the land before the crops. See this University of Saskatchewan research into why fish are dying. https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/study-finds-tire-rubber-chemicals-are-leaching-into-saskatoon-s-stormwater-runoff-but-environmental-effects-unknown-1.5607651#:~:text=Markus%20Brinkmann%2C%20a%20University%20of%20Saskatchewan%20assistant%20professor,though%20their%20effects%20in%20local%20wildlife%20are%20unknown At Greens Eggs & Ham Family Farm we believe we need nutrients more than convenience! Our greens have delicate textures or vegetables have thin skins, all are baby or small - naturally! Due to their delicate nature everything is done by hand. Yes, each carrot and beet is dug by hand, tops cut off by hand, hand washed, weighed and bagged to make ready for YOU! Andreas comes from the Agriculture world and Mary Ellen from Health Care. In the beginning of our marriage, July 6, 1985, our career paths couldn't be further apart. We have melded them together at our farm. After hearing that, while we live longer now, the last 15 years we live unwell we knew we needed to change our lives and help others. Truly, WE ARE WHAT WE EAT! WHO IS YOUR FARMER? https://www.russslemko.com/Listing/ViewListingDetails.aspx?listingId=545324468 The listing is for the farm only. However, we would dearly love the business to continue as it would be a shame to have no one carry on. We hear weekly how people have been helped by our nonconventional vegetables and greens. They are low glycemic, low carb with more easily digestible fibers than new varieties. Also, we hope that the next owners would consider producing duck eggs, with our help. We have between 20 and 50 people asking weekly as there has never been anyone else producing in quantity in Alberta. They are needed as they are alkaline and have no allergies or digestion issues and have a perfect Omega 3/6 balance as well as much more protein. Years ago, we had a University of Alberta professor study them with his class and found the above information and mentioned that 6 duck eggs a week and we would be nutritionally complete, he was a customer as well! We would entertain a combined farm and business sale package that is reasonable. Either could include all the equipment needed. Interesting video of us in our hey day where we grossed over $800,000 per year on our 10 acres. It is possible! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Aau70eTpY Questions: Please email Mary Ellen at megrueneberg@gmail.com Thank you for your time and interest! Mary Ellen & Andreas Grueneberg Greens Eggs & Ham Family Farm

Farm opportunity

Seeking: An individual/individual: • with the ability to purchase the farm and business or invest with intent on purchasing within 2 to 3 years • interested in health and nutrition of food production before buzz/marketing wording. • Aptitude to learn property management as it related to the farm and farming practices. Andreas has a BSc in Plant Science and a Diploma in Animal Science as well as decades as a Professional Agrologist in many related industries including teaching at Olds College. Mary Ellen’s background is in health care. We now combine both of our passions to Change the World in the way we can with the knowledge and abilities that we have. We hope that the next owner feels the same and we are willing to teach and work with them.