A Real Live Business Lesson
We find ourselves in a real bind right now with no relief in sight.
This particular entry is being written as a warning or maybe as a
venting!
We currently have 12 pigs on our pastures; their size and weights are
just right for slaughter and processing but our customers have
withdrawn.
If there is ever a time to think about a commitment, it is when you
ask a farmer to raise an animal for you...
In October of 2009 we were asked to raise 6 pigs for a retail outfit
here in Maine. We talked with them about their needs; they had used
our farm as a supplier and were happy with the pork; details were
worked out and we committed to delivering pigs throughout the fall and
winter of 2010/2011. In November, we were contacted by a restaurant
group who also wanted pasture raised pork. We offered references and
met with chefs personally, and they committed to purchasing pigs in
early 2011.
Acquiring piglets in 2010 proved to be difficult but not impossible. A
fall slaughter and processing plan for October and again in January of
2011 had been scheduled when the original commitments were made in
2009; because of date scarcity it is necessary to plan well in advance
for this work. We acquired quality piglets in May and again in July in
order to meet the size and weight requirements specified by our
customers and began the raising.
In August, we received our first hint of trouble – the retailer did
not have our pigs listed on their "purchasing" calendar. We asked, and
were told that things could probably be "juggled" to work out. Then,
in September, we realized they were not going to buy the October lot
--- Oh, what to do!! We called our restaurant group customer to see if
they might be able to use an early pig and had to leave a message
asking for a call back. We never got a call even though we
persistently left messages.
Meanwhile, the pigs were, and are still, being fed and cared for every
day. Apparently both customers have abandoned us. There have been no
reasons, excuses or apologies offered, they just don't want the pigs.
Commiting to raise an animal makes a few things necessary on the part
of a farmer. The farmer must have the ability to care for the animals
propperly including appropriate knowledge, space and feed and the
farmer must have the ability to acquire the piglets and maintain them
appropriately throughout the raising.
Those who want to buy the pigs have a piece in the commitment process,
too but it seems a bit simpler --- they must be able to keep their
word and buy the pigs or, at least, communicate to the farmer that
there is some problem.
We don't understand what went wrong, our end of the bargain is here,
on our pasture. Pigs from the fall harvest have been the high quality
that was expected and we expect nothing different for the January
pigs. The only thing missing is the good word of the retailer and
restaurant group. They have left us, holding pigs that we must now
take care of appropriately.
We have thousands of dollars invested in these pigs and many hours of
care. Does this mean we sell at a loss? Does this mean we don't
believe what folks tell us any more? Does this leave us feeling that
human nature is harder to deal with than Mother Nature? We don't know;
we only know we have 12 pigs on the pasture with two commitments
apparently withdrawn. And, these pigs need food and care every day.
Its a sad statement and we guess we're to blame for being trusting and
gullible. It is, in fact, a real live business lesson; we have the
pigs to prove it.
posting from Emma's Family Farm,
Windsor Maine;
Steve Hoad
See what we're doing on the Farm at
http://twitter.com/TheHoads
No comments:
Post a Comment