"The farm came in a basic format, and we adjusted it to our way of farming that suited our needs best. Since it was able to grow over 900 different crop varieties, I intended to bring the technology, and find what my market needed, no matter how I had to do that," says David Payne, Co-founder of Beats Per Minute, a container farm operator in Kansas City, Missouri.
The founders of Beats Per Minute with David in the middle
"I was a little nervous since we already sealed the deal"
Using a regional consultant, Beats Per Minute brought in a buyer from their local grocery store that has 25 chains and buy local, showing the blank farm as he came in. "Eventually, showing the technology which he didn't believe, and we showed him the menu of crops that we could grow and asked; what is your local market lacking that I could grow at this capacity to outfit the local market with these containers? The first thing he asked, can you do living herbs as I need to sell living basil plants as we lost our great grower."
After agreeing to that, David agreed to growing basil plants, and it wasn't all easy, but that's how we got to basil as it was the true need of the local market. After calling the Freight Farms team in for help on what David agreed to, they helped him find the right basil variety to grow hydroponically, and sell off as a living plant.
"I was a little nervous at first, given we already sealed the deal. Yet, we took a stance and said we would succeed selling living plants, and eventually we did manage," David affirms.
Learning on the go
"We learned things like how to fight powdery mildew and humidity inside the farm. We didn't want to spend labor time picking leaves because we had the rest of the production to manage. Some we figured out ourselves, and others with the help of Freight Farms. It was a lot of phone calls and research on our own, but knowing that Freight Farm was there to support us was great."
Launched his business over two years ago with four other business partners, David currently sells his produce to over 51 grocery stores in the area, such as Kansas City Market and Cosentino's Market. After moving to Missouri and aspiring to set up a new business with meaning related to his veteran background, he fell in love with farming. After doing loads of research, he was led to container farming and so purchased a Freight Farm which is currently positioned on a traditional farming sight of one of his partners. The company is completely veteran and female-owned. Even though each person has diverse disabilities, everyone has adapted to container farming, each playing a vital role in the business.
"Since we sell in bulk, the plants are sold live." About 2000 plants are packed per week on average. Currently, Beat Per Minute is launching new clamshell packaging on which they are aiming to put together about 700 per week, but they have reached a total of 600 per week at this moment.
Basil young plants
Funding process
Looking at the funds available, David was able to close funding from a private bank loan from a local bank. Despite having closed funding, it wasn't easy to find a farm site, which has led them to current partners, Karen and Mike's traditional farmland. "We created a business model by ourselves which we knew would work, however, we have received help from Freight Farms to present a decent business plan, leading them to see the vision and lend us the loan." On top of that, the Farm Service Agency ended up backing up Beats Per Minute as well.
For more information:
Beats Per Minute
David Payne, Founder
+1 228-229-0072
[email protected]
www.beatsperminutefarms.com