Katrina (Kat) Becker
I have been farming for 15 years in North Central Wisconsin first on Stoney Acres Farm (12 years) where I had 14 acres of certified organic vegetables at my largest size grossing around 12-15,000/acre and now at Cattail Organics (3 years) where I am farming 5 acres with some dual/multiple cropping with 20-30,000/acre gross (dependent on crop mix and cover crops). I have a lot of direct production expertise but also have built rural local market outlets; established a winter farmers market; started regional farm to schools sales. I now do limited winter only farmers markets with a focus on high value wholesale and a three season CSA. I also have experience in downsizing but increasing gross/net per acre revenue.
Farm description: 50 acre all certified organic farm with aprox. 5.5 acres of mixed vegetables, small fruit, flowers and herbs. I market to high value wholesale accounts (50% gross income); have an 80 member three season CSA; work with 3 districts on farm to schools etc. I participate extensively in university research on plant variety selection and cropping systems and use a large amount of season extension in both hoophouses; heated greenhouse and caterpillar tunnels
Products sold: Vegetables – 50 types aprox 200 varieties; flowers; herbs; maple syrup
Top 5 crops/products sold: 1. Carrots 2. Salad/Mixed lettuce 3. Beets 4. Onions 5. Mixed brassicas – kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc.
Markets I sell in: Winter Farmers Market; pop up summer markets monthly(only) with themes; Resturants (6); small scale grocery/co-ops (3); CSA; Schools(3-4/year); bulk high value processing contract (1).
Specialty areas: Higher value direct marketed wholesale; marketing organic crops to venues that do not demand or seek out certified organic produce; rural marketing; farm-to-schools
Farm description: 50 acre all certified organic farm with aprox. 5.5 acres of mixed vegetables, small fruit, flowers and herbs. I market to high value wholesale accounts (50% gross income); have an 80 member three season CSA; work with 3 districts on farm to schools etc. I participate extensively in university research on plant variety selection and cropping systems and use a large amount of season extension in both hoophouses; heated greenhouse and caterpillar tunnels
Products sold: Vegetables – 50 types aprox 200 varieties; flowers; herbs; maple syrup
Top 5 crops/products sold: 1. Carrots 2. Salad/Mixed lettuce 3. Beets 4. Onions 5. Mixed brassicas – kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc.
Markets I sell in: Winter Farmers Market; pop up summer markets monthly(only) with themes; Resturants (6); small scale grocery/co-ops (3); CSA; Schools(3-4/year); bulk high value processing contract (1).
Specialty areas: Higher value direct marketed wholesale; marketing organic crops to venues that do not demand or seek out certified organic produce; rural marketing; farm-to-schools
