Organization looks to preserve family farms
Organization looks to preserve family farms
ORLANDO, FL -- Sister companies Horton Fruit Co. and Grow Farms, based in Louisville, KY, are working together to help promote Kentucky-grown produce and preserve family farms.
Grow Farms, which was founded earlier this year and is a grower and distributor of high-quality regional foods, was the brainchild of Brian Knott, who oversees operations.
According to Mr. Knott, farming inputs are rising across the board, and without some assistance with marketing and distribution, growers are at risk of going out of business.
"We provide food safety and traceability expertise," said Mr. Knott. "Inputs are so high, and we want to be there to help them. We let them have as much control as possible, and we want them to get the best return."
Bill Benoit, vice president of Horton Fruit Co., said, "The purpose of Grow Farms is to help sustain family farms. There are a lot of good growers, but they know nothing about distribution, so that is where we can help them."
Grow Farms markets and distributes produce from growers in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, primarily field-grown items from June to late September. The company is looking to expand to other states in the future.
Mr. Benoit said that the locally grown movement is driving growth for the organization and that the "Grow" brand is becoming more widely recognized among consumers. "We work with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to market the products," he said, adding that the "Kentucky Pride" brand also appears on the "Grow" label.
Mr. Benoit said that Grow Farms buys the entire production from some growers and in some cases will send a refrigerated truck to pick it up. "We're at a good balance now with our supply and demand," said Mr. Knott.
Grow Farms, which was founded earlier this year and is a grower and distributor of high-quality regional foods, was the brainchild of Brian Knott, who oversees operations.
According to Mr. Knott, farming inputs are rising across the board, and without some assistance with marketing and distribution, growers are at risk of going out of business.
"We provide food safety and traceability expertise," said Mr. Knott. "Inputs are so high, and we want to be there to help them. We let them have as much control as possible, and we want them to get the best return."
Bill Benoit, vice president of Horton Fruit Co., said, "The purpose of Grow Farms is to help sustain family farms. There are a lot of good growers, but they know nothing about distribution, so that is where we can help them."
Grow Farms markets and distributes produce from growers in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, primarily field-grown items from June to late September. The company is looking to expand to other states in the future.
Mr. Benoit said that the locally grown movement is driving growth for the organization and that the "Grow" brand is becoming more widely recognized among consumers. "We work with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to market the products," he said, adding that the "Kentucky Pride" brand also appears on the "Grow" label.
Mr. Benoit said that Grow Farms buys the entire production from some growers and in some cases will send a refrigerated truck to pick it up. "We're at a good balance now with our supply and demand," said Mr. Knott.
