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photo by Steve VanGunda
LeJean Rand displays some of the vegetables she sells at her and her husband Ed’s home produce stand on Holly Drive.
Group provides support for small farmers in Miss.
Published Monday, July 7, 2008
NATCHEZ — Out on Foster Mound Road, Ed Rand grows onions, bell peppers and tomatoes as part of his startup produce business, but right now he’s selling them out of his house on Holly Drive.
Rand just started his small vegetable production farm this year, and it’s his goal to produce tomatoes year round in a greenhouse when it’s too seasonally cold to produce them outside.
“The tomatoes are really our big focus,” Rand said.
But what you might not realize from looking at him is that Rand is one of what Velma Oliver has dubbed the Mississippi Small Farm Development Center’s “protégés.”
The program is designed to provide technical or financial assistance farmers might require in terms of getting themselves on track to having a productive farming enterprise, Mississippi Small Farm Development Associate Director Gregory Reed said.
“We might help with their business plan by providing an analysis of their various cost-production components, and show them what is working, what is feasible to help create a solid cash flow,” Reed said.
That is where Rand fits into the picture, as one of the farmers working with the farm records program.
“A lot of small farmers do not keep records,” Oliver, one of the program’s promoters, said. “That was one of our big problems.”
Not only does participating in the farm records program help Rand see where his money is going, it will simplify his life down the road.
“At the end of the year, his tax records are complete,” Oliver said.
The function of the program that Rand utilizes the most, however, is simple promotion, he said.
“They are really energetic out there trying to promote us and help us,” Rand said.
As for Rand, his business plan is simple enough.
“My wife sells the produce at home, and I come out to the field and work it every day,” he said. “Hopefully, people will buy our produce.”
Comments
Posted by crystal0429 (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Their produce is awesome! Juicy tomatoes and excellent squash!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Look how pretty her tomatoes are! I could just bite into one as if it was an apple.
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These vegetables are so colorful...Seems like a lot of love goes into their production.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good job Mr. & Mrs. Rand
I hope to visit you soon and buy some
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
did you know that Crystal Springs & Natchez area used to be the tomato capital of the WORLD???
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish we had a farmers market. This would be so beneficial for the smaller farmers.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
happybunny, that was the sole purpose of the Natchez produce market but somehow something went wrong somewhere. Hope the restaurant is doing good tho'. We have veggie stands around town but it cost to much for me. I realize they have to make a living too, so I'll stop there. So many local farmers could sell their own produce if they had a place to do so to help subsidize their income b/c a lot of them are retired and living on small incomes. All they can do now is sit on the road side in the heat. Buy local whenever possible to stop this scare of e-coli. When it's shipped in you never really know what you're eating.
Posted by latashabholmes (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have a farmers market in Natchez on Main Street. It is across the street from St. Mary's Church. Local Farmers can contact Helen Brooks at the Natchez Farmers Market for more information.
Posted by Desiderata (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have tasted some of the
Rands' produce and it is top qualitlity! The best I've ever had. It's worth the trip to Holly Drive for some of those HOME grown tomatos.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is Holly Drive behind the Express Poboy joint?
Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Kpage. They live on the dead end part of Holly Drive.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is the Marketplace still doing the farmers market? I had heard they stopped doing it for whatever reason.
Posted by lavada (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its great local farmers can get assistance on developmental processes like record keeping. Growing vegetables is not as easy as it seems with the weather like it is, ask my tomatoe garden its secret for not doing much. The earth bears great abundance to those who have the talent to reap its rewards. I admire the rands for their tenacity and love of growing. Good Luck
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