Some producers are choosing this as the way ahead, but they caution that it is not for the faint of heart and that success depends on factors that may not be in the farmer’s control
by MARY BAXTER
For the past decade, the Aarts, who are hog producers near St. Marys, have been developing a fresh vegetable, direct marketing business. So far, selling sweet corn and other vegetables at the farm gate and at a local farmers’ market generates about one sixth of their business. Selling at the farm gate also presents a potential outlet for pork generated at their 150-sow farrow-to-finish operation near St. Marys.