Siri Erickson-Brown and Jason Salvo own and operate Local Roots Farm, fifteen acres of diversified vegetables in the Snoqualmie River valley thirty miles west of Seattle.
With sixty percent of their sales to restaurants, and the remainder going to a CSA and a farmers market, Siri and Jason take a low-tech, high-touch approach to marketing. We get into the nitty gritty of how they manage their restaurant sales, from crop planning to receiving orders and managing shortages and overages. Siri and Jason also explain how their multiple marketing outlets work together to sell a high percentage of what they grow.
All three of us dig into our Latin roots (yes, that’s a pun), and Siri and Jason tell us about how that’s influenced their choice of chicories as a major focus of their wholesale operation. We talk about how they use QuickBooks and other data to drive business decisions, and how they monitor business performance throughout the season to avoid surprises.
With sixty percent of their sales to restaurants, and the remainder going to a CSA and a farmers market, Siri and Jason take a low-tech, high-touch approach to marketing. We get into the nitty gritty of how they manage their restaurant sales, from crop planning to receiving orders and managing shortages and overages. Siri and Jason also explain how their multiple marketing outlets work together to sell a high percentage of what they grow.
All three of us dig into our Latin roots (yes, that’s a pun), and Siri and Jason tell us about how that’s influenced their choice of chicories as a major focus of their wholesale operation. We talk about how they use QuickBooks and other data to drive business decisions, and how they monitor business performance throughout the season to avoid surprises.
Sponsors
Vermont Compost Company: Founded by organic crop growing professionals committed to meeting the need for high-quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Farmer to Farmer Podcast Donate Page: And by you, our listeners. By setting up a small monthly donation at farmertofarmerpodcast.com/donate, you can be a vital part of reaching and growing the Farmer to Farmer Podcast community.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Farmer to Farmer Podcast Donate Page: And by you, our listeners. By setting up a small monthly donation at farmertofarmerpodcast.com/donate, you can be a vital part of reaching and growing the Farmer to Farmer Podcast community.
Quotes from the Show
[Siri] You can really drive yourself crazy trying to be an expert at 100 different crops.
[Siri] We're business people and trying to make good business decisions, and so we're not afraid to give up on something that is maybe not profitable, even if it's something we really love.
[Jason] when Felix was born, we really deliberately said, "Hey, we have to make our farm bigger, so that we can hire more people, so that we aren't the ones doing all of the work all the time."
[Siri] The biggest thing that we keep coming back to, for the personal and farm sustainability, is our employees.
[Siri] We're business people and trying to make good business decisions, and so we're not afraid to give up on something that is maybe not profitable, even if it's something we really love.
[Jason] when Felix was born, we really deliberately said, "Hey, we have to make our farm bigger, so that we can hire more people, so that we aren't the ones doing all of the work all the time."
[Siri] The biggest thing that we keep coming back to, for the personal and farm sustainability, is our employees.
Show Links
Siri mentioned the importance of the Seeds from Italy catalog for their business.
John Navazio from Johnny’s has been working with growers in the area on chicory.
Jason mentioned Farmer to Farmer-guest Chris Field from Campo Rosso’s work on chicories.
John Navazio from Johnny’s has been working with growers in the area on chicory.
Jason mentioned Farmer to Farmer-guest Chris Field from Campo Rosso’s work on chicories.
Latin Translations
Semper ubi sub ubi - always where under where (a joke for Latin students – get it?).
Nosce te ipsum carborundum – Don’t let the bastards get you down.
Alea iacta est – The die is cast. Attributed to Julius Caesar on the crossing of the Rubicon River.
De gustibus non disputandum est – In matters of taste, there can be no disputes.
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur - Whatever has been said in Latin seems deep.
Nosce te ipsum carborundum – Don’t let the bastards get you down.
Alea iacta est – The die is cast. Attributed to Julius Caesar on the crossing of the Rubicon River.
De gustibus non disputandum est – In matters of taste, there can be no disputes.
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur - Whatever has been said in Latin seems deep.
Transcript
The transcript for this episode is brought to you byEarth Tools, offering the most complete selection of walk-behind farming equipment and high-quality garden tools in North America. And by Osborne Quality Seeds, a dedicated partner for growers. Visitosborneseed.com for high quality seed, industry-leading customer service, and fast order fulfillment. And byCoolBot, allowing you to build an affordable walk-in cooler powered by a window air-conditioning unit. Save $20 on your CoolBot when you visitfarmertofarmerpodcast.com/coolbot. Additional funding for transcripts provided byNorth Central SARE, providing grants and education to advance innovations in Sustainable Agriculture.
