Organic farming has been around in the United States for a while. It began in the 1940s but in recent years it has risen in popularity. The safety of organic food is appealing to many people, as well as the more environmentally sound practices used on these farms. Climate change and global warming are still hot topics of the day – and farmers are leading the way in showing how we can adapt our economy and our technology to new environmental realities. One thing that keeps some traditional farmers from moving to an organic approach has been the age-old question – can we make money at it? More evidence that organic farms can be profitable has been provided by the success of Full Circle Farm, which is now a multi-state organic-produce business.

CEO Andrew Stout started Full Circle Farm in 2001 with the help of two friends. In 2003 they expanded their operation to 53 acres, and by 2011, the Washington State-based farm had expanded its direct fruit and vegetable delivery to 16,000 customers in Washington and Idaho. With new distribution centers in Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska, Full Circle Farm is poised to grow their 400-acre operation even more.

The biggest multi-million dollar farm business starts with hard work. Stout and his friends worked 12 hours a day to learn everything they could about organic farming, and plan on expanding their operations further. Full Circle Farms works closely with investors and advertisers in order to maintain and expand the business.

While there are many Earth-savvy advocates of organic produce, organic production is a business-oriented field. Stout’s work is proof of this. Organic farming as a viable business depends heavily on following the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency. A select list of substances can be used to manage crops, and farmers cannot use genetic engineering or anything other than physical, mechanical, or biological methods to control pests, diseases, and weeds. Crop cultivation and rotations are used to sustain soil fertility and nutrients.

The growing popularity of organic farming opens potentially lucrative opportunities for farm businesses. With the right forward-looking business attitude, knowledge, and hard work, one can succeed over time. The demand for organic produce has never been higher – Full Circle Farms shows that meeting that demand with solid business fundamentals can lead to outstanding returns.

Sources:

The Seattle Times, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015332051_inpersonstout20.html

EPA, http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/torg.html#Background