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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — JUNE 23, 2023
Wright Farms features mixture of diversity and fun By WHITNEY NESSE The Land Correspondent Paul and Heather Wright of Wright Farms have always been ag advocates, promoters and educators and very entrepreneurial — looking for unique ways to diversify. From harvesting fish oil to processing and packaging thousands of miniature straw bales, they’ll try anything once! So with a desire to promote agriculture, offer learning opportunities for consumers, and diversify the farm, their entrepreneurial spirits led them to open a storefront right on the farm! “We needed to figure out how to visit more with consumers,” said Paul. “We do a lot of consumer education and ag promotion, so the concept of starting our own little store came around.”
Market offers Aronia berries and a whole host of locally grown and produced products for consumers to choose from. Wright Farms Market offers locally grown and produced products such as beef, ice cream, pizza, candles, honey, soaps, coffee, and more. “We promote our beef, and the store provides us with the chance to sell smaller portions,” Paul said. “Last year, we decided to try popcorn!” added Heather. She said the popcorn, Aronia berries and beef are all grown by Wright Farms. “We’re really trying to maintain the local piece as much as possible,” said Paul.
“This has been quite a learning event, and the whole family has been involved in it,” Paul said. The Wrights have four young adult children who actively participate in all of the endeavors.
The Wrights opened Wright Farms Market in April of 2022. Both Paul and Heather were raised on farms, and after they married, farmed with Paul’s parents before the farm transition began. They purchased the farm from Paul’s parents. “Back then, it was a split between dairy and corn and soybeans,” Paul recalled. “Then we started dabbling in different things.” Making the miniature straw bales was the first time Wrights entered the niche market. “We pur- The Wrights’ little shop contains a wide variety of locally owned and produced products. chased a baler that makes miniature straw bales and started carrying them into different lawn “Whether it’s in the store, the barn, or and garden centers in the Twin Cities,” the tractor, everyone is able to diversify said Paul. “They went over like crazy! and do what we have to do,” Paul Now we make a few thousand of them!” explained. “Fortunately, they all live “Somewhere along the line, we got close by and everybody pitches in. The introduced to Aronia berries,” shared kids were all raised helping in the barn, Paul. He said they learned about Aronia so whether it’s milking, feeding, or drivberries in 2016. The purple berries are ing skid steer, it’s pretty easy to find native to the Midwest and are high in somebody to switch in. At this point, antioxidants, and it piqued their intereveryone is still having fun with [the est. “We went down to Iowa and visited farm], so we’re just going to go with it!” with some people [who grew the berries], Diversity is the name of the game for and pretty soon, we put in a 10-acre Wright Farms. In addition to raising orchard, roughly 12,000 plants, of Aronia beef, Aronia berries, and making miniaberries,” he said. ture straw bales, Wright’s milk 45 cows Wright Farms is one of Minnesota’s and have the ability, with the help of a largest growers of Aronia berries. Paul “Bale Baron,” to make small square said they recently capitalized on the bales of hay and straw for hobby farmers opportunity to grow Aronia berries and horse farms. “That has helped with Photos submitted organically. “We’re now certified organic, Left to right: Cody, Allison, Heather, Paul, McKenna and Breanna Wright. the diversification of our crop acres,” Paul noted. “Last year, we had about 120 acres of hybrid rye, which generates an amazing and that has opened up a number of markets for us,” amount of straw, and we’re able to sell every bit of it. Call today and receive a he stated. And the soil quality that is left behind is amazing. So Recently, Wright’s purchased an Aronia berry har- it’s a benefit all the way around.” vester in cooperation with two other growers rather $ Opening the storefront has come with challenges, than having the berries custom harvested. “It’s agreed Paul and Heather. “There are a lot of regulaworked a lot better,” he said emphatically. tions,” said Paul. “We opened a couple of months after According to the Wrights, the Aronia berry is not our target, just getting through all of the [regulatory very well known and is still working to find its place processes]. Really, we’re pretty basic here because we in the market. However, Wrights hope to provide don’t package anything,” he added. face-to-face educational interactions with consumers With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous and that is where the store comes in. Wright Farms See WRIGHT FARMS, pg. 14 walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present
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