Opinion: In Agribusiness, You Can Start Over
April 27, 2012 
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to look back on past decisions with a critical eye, but if you had the chance, would you do it all over again? Change just for the sake of change is one thing. Making a move because you have no choice is another. The undulations of the economy, along with the day-in-and-day-out rigors of doing business, can put agriculture industry newcomers, as well as seasoned veterans, at odds with his or her original blueprint for success.
It’s not easy to acknowledge defeat when the handwriting is on the wall. Of course, there are a couple of ways to deal with that scenario. You can fold up your tent and move on. And no one would blame you, especially with the seemingly exponential growth of workplace challenges. On the other hand, there are some who will do just about anything to hold onto what they love. If faced with a do or die situation, which path would you take? The choice will tell how passionate and (most importantly) how resourceful you are.
Full Circle
Fraleigh Nursery, this month’s cover story subject, is a prime example of an operation that knows how to adapt in times of marketplace demand and even demise. A little more than four years ago, I interviewed Jay Fraleigh, owner of the North Florida farm tucked away in Madison (not far from the Georgia border) for another cover story. That feature was for former Florida Grower sister publication Ornamental Outlook. At the time, Fraleigh Nursery specialized in growing woody and herbaceous ornamentals and shrubs for the landscape market and was in the spotlight for inventing a patented low-pressure irrigation system for containerized plants (Gro-Eco). Plans were under way to add another 75 acres on site featuring the Gro-Eco. Within a year, the housing market crashed, which then had a domino effect on the landscape industry and ornamental nursery growers.
Fast forward to today, and you’ll find a transformed farm now showcasing vegetables as its main staple. Look further and you’ll see the site expansion complete — with high tunnels to boot. The sixth-generation family farmer decided to tap into his roots and change the gameplan for his business. That road has not been easy, and the journey is far from over. Learn more from Fraleigh’s firsthand experience by clicking here.
Plant The Seed
Radical changes, like the ones Fraleigh has had to implement, are the exception (thankfully). Often, it is a slight tweak that can make a big difference internally. Case in point: Lykes Bros. boasts one of the largest agricultural portfolios in the state. We recently learned about Lykes’ citrus division’s unique time and money saving solution for planting trees, which involves a converted pine tree planter guided by GPS. Just another case of need meeting ingenuity.
No matter the size of the problem, there’s always a drawing board available. What goes on it is up to you.
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