Massena Farms

Let's Eat Investment Group, LLC

How to Speed Up "Slow Money" In Sustainable Agriculture There’s no “fast money” in sustainable farming, but the growth of Slow Money groups in Omaha (https://www.facebook.com/letseatinvest/) and Lawrence http://www.slowmoneynekansas.org/)suggests that investors are starting to take notice of the profit potential in commercial-scale production and processing for local and regional retail sales. Grocery stores like Russ’s and Hy-Vee come to mind. But we have work to do before we are ready to “pitch” new retail-scale farms and food businesses to smart investors. After observing and participating in Slow Money groups and events over the past couple of years, I see a real need for better farm accounting, new business structures and systematic investments in a full range of professional marketing services. A recent e-mail from an experienced organic farmer drove home the importance of strong business practices in sustainable agriculture. He wrote that the issue of “…premier importance [is] making farmland available to young people who know how to use it to grow healthful food”. He also wrote that sustainable farmers need “…to scale up their sales, marketing knowledge, overall business skills, etc. at the same time”. I interpret his statements as a call for new business models that: 1) Make farmer-owned, sustainable food brands highly visible in local and regional retail markets, 2) Bring steady profits to experienced sustainable growers so that they can acquire more land as consumer demand increases, and equally as important, 3) Make steady money for investors. If farmers adopt sound business practices and develop their own brands, investors will be better able to evaluate the financial condition and growth potential of sustainable farms and food businesses. Further, farmers and investors will be able to make money together by competing at the retail level with branded, high-value foods from outside of our respective trade areas. With due respect to Organic Valley, farmers in the Omaha and Kansas City areas can be competitive if we adopt modern business practices. Thank you. Jim Steffen js@localfoods.org 402-317-2639

Massena Farms

Local financing for local farms and food businesses is moving to the “center of the plate” for sustainable farmers and food advocates. To learn more about “Slow Money” and other local investing ideas, please join us Friday and Saturday (January 29 and 30) at the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society annual meeting at the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City: http://www.nebsusag.org/conference.shtml While I’m thinking about meetings, Slow Money of NE Kansas is hosting its second annual Entrepreneur Showcase on February 11 in Lawrence: http://www.slowmoneynekansas.org/ Last but certainly not least, please join the Let’s Eat Investment Group and other SRI investors as we build new private financing capacity for Omaha area sustainable farms and food businesses: https://www.facebook.com/letseatinvest/