Paradise Farms of Homestead, Florida

by Abby Plucienkowski

     My time spent at Paradise Farms of Homestead, Florida has been an extraordinary experience and the knowledge gained extremely valuable. Paradise Farms is a small organic farm with a strong emphasis on sustainability and relationship marketing. Through delivering the organic micro greens, tropical fruits, and edible flowers to the chefs of many of the best restaurants in Miami, I have been able to experience this relationship marketing first-hand. Finding frustration in having to explain to the general public why quality, organic produce is more costly (monetarily, and in the short-run) than the regular supermarket, owner Gabriele Marewski decided CSA and Farmers' Markets were not for her. Instead, she extended toward the culinary experts who greatly appreciate the quality of and meaning behind organic and local goods.

     Paradise Farms has a great respect for all customers, employees and Mother Nature. That respect has permeated into my own life since I became a part of the operation. My agroecology scholarship allowed me to do something that had never before been done in Paradise Farms-a product cost analysis. My research into the cost of one of the farm's biggest selling products, "Paradise Blend" micro greens, found a profit of just 10%. This information allowed the price of each box to be raised and, more importantly, proved the importance of cost analyses for every product-especially for small farms such as Paradise where a small percentage makes a big difference. Currently I am continuing to deliver for Paradise Farms, as well as doing cost analyses for each product we sell. Many thanks to the agroecology department for the great opportunity!

This project has been made possible by a funding support under the USDA CSREES HSI Higher Education Grant Program.USDA-CSREES Grant Number 2005-36422-15940.