May 2019 - 20

FARM MARKET & AGRITOURISM
Recognition and
reputation
Farm marketers share produce
knowledge with customers
By Dean Peterson
VGN Correspondent
The hard work of having a greenhouse
may not appeal to most people, but it
was a new beginning for Jim and Cathy
Tomlin of End Of The Lane Plants and
Produce of Deford, Michigan.
" I grew up in Detroit and farming was
new to me, " Jim said. " I grew up in the
city, but my family had hunting property
up at Deford. " Deford is a tiny community
in the eastern Thumb region of Michigan.
The first greenhouse was bought in
2012 as a part-time project. " Having a
farm market was interesting, and it was
some extra spending money, " Jim said. " It
worked so well, we kept branching out in
different areas. "
Eventually a layoff from the auto
industry came and that was the nudge
that made End Of The Lane Plants and
Produce a full-time business.
The operation has grown to five
greenhouses. Four are heated hoop
houses for herbs and vegetables, and one
is a greenhouse for floriculture. Basil,
rosemary, spearmint, parsley, oregano
and dill are the main herbs grown and
a continual, timely harvest is a key to
growing them.
" You've got to keep up on trimming
them, " Jim said. " You don't want them
to get ahead of you. " Herbs will continue
making shoots when trimmed and those
shoots are the most flavorful and are what
customers want to buy.
" We have a lot of customers with an
average age of 30 to 35, " Jim said. " These
are young families who want to cook
healthy, but still want to have food with
good flavor. " The greenhouse also sells
herb transplants since some customers
want their own little herb garden in
containers on their porch or deck.
" Herbs are easy to grow, as long as you
know the conditions they need, " Jim said.
" We're a small community and people
want good quality food. "
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pickles,
onions and all types of winter squash are the
main vegetables grown. End Of The Lane
Plants and Produce also grows more unique
items like banana peppers and other hot
peppers. Tomatoes transplants are planted
in a hoop house early - late February or
early March - to target the early market.
Deford is close to Lake Huron, which
puts it in the lake-effect snow belt of the
Great Lakes. " We use wood heat, " Jim
said. " Getting up every three or four
hours every day to stoke the fire is a lot of
work. With a greenhouse, you're on 24/7
and working hard is a requirement. "
The floriculture is important because
it gets customers to come out to the
Jim and Cathy Tomlin own End Of The Lane Plants and Produce of Deford, Michigan.
Photo: Dean Peterson
greenhouse early in the season. " We open
the week before Mother's Day, but it really
starts Memorial (Day) weekend, " Jim said.
The operation grows and sells bedding
plants and flower transplants. End Of The
Lane Plants and Produce also sells up to
1,000 hanging baskets in both 10-inch
and 12-inch sizes. Petunias, Superwave
petunias, and a wide variety of dahlias
and Washington geraniums are some of
the flowers sold. The floriculture season
lasts about six weeks.
The Lake Huron shoreline is a
recreation area with many tourists and
summer residents. Port Austin is on the
shoreline at the tip of Michigan's Thumb.
Its Saturday farmers' market has up to 150
vendors, draws hundreds of people and
the Tomlins make sure they attend.
" A farm market is about recognition
and about reputation, " Jim said. " We
want people to see us so we're there at the
beginning and stay to the close. "
The Tomlins are also at Port Austin's
Wednesday farmers' market which is
smaller and more targeted toward local
residents. They also market at the Cass
City farmers' market on Thursday and the
Marlette farmers' market on Friday.
" It's a lot of work, " Jim said. " I don't
think people really realize how much
work it is, but they all want to talk to us
and know who we are. People want to
know what's in their food. " VGN
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20 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
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May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2019
