Cecil Farms Grows In The Field & Community
When you think fresh vegetables in Owensboro, chances are you think of Cecil Farms. And when you realize how widespread the reach of their produce is, it’s easy to see why.
Cecil Farms has raised produce for more than 30 years, growing fruits and vegetables on both a commercial and local level. They’ve gained national commercial contracts and distribution partnerships, allowing them to increase their growing acreage, and reach a national consumer base. If you’ve bought produce at Walmart, Kroger, SAM’s Club or Meijer, you may have purchased something grown by Cecil Farms. And adding local distributors as customers has gotten their fruits and veggies into schools and restaurants in three surrounding states. These accomplishments— 70,000 acres annually and 75% growth over the last five years — come from previously only serving the region they could deliver to themselves.
But what’s really made Cecil Farms unique is how it gets ultra fresh product into the hands of local people. That’s largely in part to Suzanne Cecil White, Director of Operations, who has customers hooked on community supported agriculture. Anyone can go online to www.cecilfarmspd.com and sign up for a half-share or full-share box of produce, to be delivered to their homes on a regular basis. White got the service off the ground when she returned to Owensboro, and the family business, after being a math teacher in Bowling Green.
“We take something people love — fresh foods— and make it super convenient to get access to,” she said.
Beginning in May 2018, Cecil Farms CSA will give even more people the opportunity to get their hands on their farm-fresh boxes.
“Think fast-food-type of quick convenience to your door, only fresher, available with season subscriptions and without,” Cecil White said. “Want a single box this week? You got it. Want it every single week of the season? You got that! The options are all there this year.”
Beyond produce, they’re also growing agriculture knowledge by working with the Boys and Girls club in a “seed to sell” type program.
“We are working with the kids year-round now, creating authentic hands-on, face-to-face experiences of real farming practices with them,” she said.
The kids will start spring seeding soon and tend to it all before they transplant their plants into the field in May. They’ll harvest in June and July, and sell, giveaway or donate their crops.
“It’s a full-circle program that creates a lot of ‘aha’ moments and experiences,” Cecil White said. “It’s the real deal!”
The program continues throughout the year with classroom experiences and field trips as well.
“Teaching is my passion,” Cecil White said. “I love to facilitate engaging experiences and memorable moments with others.”
The farm has begun to build a program of field-trip worthy experiences, and there’s more to come. Every group is tailored differently based on the audience — professional adults, elementary students or tourists — but the focus is always on hands-on, authentic experiences related to the current growing season at the farm.
The outreach isn’t just in education — they help keep the community fed.
Since about 2012 they’ve worked on different levels with local school families to get produce into homes that may not otherwise have it. Currently, they work with the Salvation Army, providing weekly produce for their participants to take home and eat for the weekend.
“Similar to a backpack program, only it’s all perishable and fresh,” Cecil White explained.
They also work with local and tri-state food banks, summer programs and more.
“It’s something that we truly love,” she said. “Servant leadership — we are called to ask ourselves in all that we do, ‘what are you doing for others?’ Our whole business model is about service and providing for others. Serving families, serving our community, on many different levels.”
And there’s more to come. The farm’s currently got berries and grapes on the way. Although they take some time, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and table grapes are in the ground and growing with the goal of creating more memorable farm experiences for families.
Cecil Farms is also planning an event space to start booking in 2019. “White Chateau” will be available for weddings and events like corporate meetings, dinner dates and birthday parties. More details will be available soon.
Cecil Farms really is all about growing, and that’s not limited to produce.
