Taking a risk can be a scary proposition. However, sometimes you have to take that leap to move forward in life as well as in business. Agriculture is a prime example where -- despite gobs of statistical data showing what works and what doesn’t -- many a dice are still rolled to find ways to produce bigger, better, and more crops for longer periods of time. Besides the obvious, there probably is a lot of finger-crossing going on regarding fundamental things such as whether to make that large investment, change in a vendor, tweak to production philosophy, or alternative crop planting.Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Canal Point, FL-based Erickson Farm to conduct the photo/video shoot for the cover story I was writing. A combination of experience and experimentation has driven this grower, packer, and shipper of tropical specialties (mangos, avocados, carambola, longan, lychee, sapodilla, etc…) for nearly 100 years. I was able to score some of exotic edibles during my visit, BTW [see photo].
As explained to me, the 62-acre farm I was standing in was where five generations have lived and worked. It’s hard to fathom how many changes have occurred between now and then. In order to survive and sustain for that long, you know risks were taken along the way. I suppose trying to grow “tropical” edibles in a subtropical environment would be among the biggest. However, once that first mango tree was planted long ago, they learned the parcel’s proximity to Lake Okeechobee provided a unique microclimate that allows for growing things others around them cannot. They reaped the reward from that risk, found their niche, and have stuck with it.
In speaking with two generations of Ericksons on their farm (father Dale and his two daughters Kim and Krista), I see where the experience meshes with the younger generation perspective and input. That generational transition has played out several times over for the Ericksons and continues to help them branch out for new growth. Read more about how this operation nurtures its knack for niche in the November issue of Florida Grower. Check out the videos, too.
The door is open – just like it always has been -- for the future of modern agriculture, especially given the latest advancements in communications, technologies, and chemistries, to name a few.
Not trying different things in different ways is a risk we all cannot afford to take.
