|
|
||
|
Beginners Guide to a Herb Business |
||
|
It is surprising that with so many gardeners and the high prices of herbs on the shelves of the supermarkets, that many more haven't gotten into the lucrative field of herb growing and processing. Herbs and spices have been around for centuries -- they were used in ancient times to mask "funny" tastes in meats that could not be refrigerated, "people odor" before deodorants were invented and of course, to add a little variety to the same foods eaten day after day, because all that was available was what was in season. Spices were discovered and brought in by caravans to liven up otherwise drab diets and making living "up close" more tolerable. Winters in the European areas were limited to foods that would keep; potatoes, salted meats, turnips -- but nothing green or fresh! When spring came, everyone welcomed the new vigor they found in such "magic" plants as spinach, celery, and various "greens." We now know they were replenishing their supplies of vitamins (especially) and minerals that were missing from their winter diets -- but they only knew that by eating certain plants, or drinking their juices or "wonder elixirs" they felt better! We also know a healthy patient recovers from almost any aliment better than a frail one -- but in those days, "magic" plants were sometimes given credit for healing all sorts of things: even broken bones (boneset)! In the 18th and 19th centuries (before refrigeration), there was a thriving trade in herbs to rejuvenate, cleanse the blood and cure just about anything.. To this day, the difference between herbs and spices is mainly that spices can be dried for long, overland camel caravan trips; while herbs are fresh and ready use! To be successful in the herb and spice business, grow things that do well in your area -- that you have adequate facilities and room for. Of course, you can expand the list of possibilities with a greenhouse and various climate control devices, plus soil manipulation. At the least you will probably need a small greenhouse (or hot frame) to start your plants and perhaps a screened area for growing and/or drying that is secure from insects and other pests. Not only can you market plants and seeds as individual items, but there is also a lucrative market in blends of herbs and spices. Fortunes have been made with these! Once you establish a market, make agreements to buy from other growers (even out of state) at wholesale rates of course to enable you to offer a well rounded selection to your customers. You can also buy or compile booklets on herbs and spices (their history, uses, reputed therapeutic properties and folk lore) that can enhance your sales and profits. (Our web site provides the backbone of this information.) To get started, the first thing to do is some HOMEWORK. Get several books from the library, local (new, used, half price) bookstores, and mail order. Find out which plants will do well in your situation by studying their climate, soil and sunlight needs and estimate the market that might be created. When you decide which ones you would like to try, Learn something of their background (history, medicinal value, folklore, etc.). This is very important in herb farming - people may not be interested in the history of a turnip, but mints once used to "clean" eating boards (no dishes) for royalty might catch the fancy of a customer or two. Although it would be worthless as a learning aid for growing herbs, Culpepper's Complete Herbal is a copy of a 17th century book outlining the uses and powers of the various herbs. This, and others that tell about their "magical" powers are no longer considered factual, but nonetheless, fascinating -- they will help create interest in your herbs! Make arrangements with a local printer or desktop publisher to make nice (and unique) labels for your jars, bundles and packets. Have little folders of information on the more interesting ones -- this will help raise the price. When you ship packages of herbs or spices, always include some of this type of literature -- these are some of your more profitable sales, and you want them to order again! Some herbs, such as basil are notorious for attracting white flies, a perennial greenhouse pest. They don't do all that much damage (unless they are really bad), but they are a nuisance and extremely difficult to eradicate. One way to help control them is to keep herbs that attract pests away from each other as much as possible; another is to move the plants to an outside location where the wind help control the size of the colony. Herbs generally do not need fertilizing. In most cases, a good compost and a little processed (purified) manure is fine. If you need an easy way to apply fertilizers on a large scale, consider a syphon attachment on your watering hose. Marketing your herbs profitably is a matter of finding those with a need (gourmet restaurants and cooks), and coming up with something that is different and interesting. Check with small stores, health and gift shops. Ask them to try your products -- even if it is on consignment. Ordinarily, you can offer a special introductory price to entice shop keepers to try them. Exposure of both your name and herbs is what you are after at this early stage. Work with a printer to have a display package to show off your products to their best advantage. A poster with a tray of products underneath would be a nice window display. Meanwhile, advertise in your market area and write some "news release" items for the local paper to help introduce yourself and your products. Herbs and their accompanying folklore lend themselves well to this approach. Of course, your little articles will also mention where one can get such interesting things! Put magnetic signs on your car and call on as many retailers and restaurants as you can to establish a wholesale route. Leave samples of your best products with the large, gourmet cooks. When building a route, it is necessary to keep calling on prospective customers -- even when they haven't bought anything. This tends to prove your reliability (why buy from an out of town supplier and pay freight if they can get the same quality delivered?). Remember that some retailers have been "burned" in the past by those who SAY they are reliable. Since very little actual space and weight is needed for herb delivery, your family car (with magnetic signs, of course) will do nicely as your first delivery van. Tip: offer a plan to place and periodically replace, live, growing plants such as basil to restaurants. This will allow them to advertise that they use fresh herbs! |
||