Family Farm Rises from Fall After Neighbors Support Local Business

A family farm rises after its fall due to the pandemic. Neighbors support them by leaving generous tips and spreading the word about the products after they have sent hundreds of emails.

Ralph and Lisa Turner used one-fifth of an acre in Freeport, Maine, to launch a farm called Laughing Stock in 1996. Since then, they have been producing quality vegetables and selling them to restaurants over the years.

The company website proudly states that its goal is to produce quality and fresh local vegetables to work hand in hand with other businesses to help the family sustain their farm to help serve one another for the years to come.

Effect of COVID-19 on Restaurants

However, due to the pandemic, the restaurants have closed, which has caused the family business to hit the lowest.

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Tons of fresh produce got left in cold storage because of the zero demands. The organic farmer couple could not sell, so they decided to come up with a plan B. They opened a farm stand and sold pre-bagged products for $3.

Newsletters to hundreds of email addresses

The company sent out the word to 450 email addresses. According to The New York Times, Lisa said that they packed goods expecting at least ten people a day to buy. Little did they know, the newsletter they sent out kept spreading to different people.

On the first two and a half days, they already sold 130 dozen eggs. Because of that, the couple decided to expand their business. Lisa tried to set up delivery after she contacted a local beef farmer.

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She said that the initial 40-pound delivery were all sold out because customers served steak very often. Not only that, but customers also left generous tips to show their support to the family farm.

Lisa noted that their experience was like how it happened in Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life." In the film, the community helped George Balley so his family Building & Loan company.

Since the Turners made a huge profit from their plan B, they have pivoted their business model in the coming year. The couple plans to run a farm store with organic wares and other local meat and dairy distributors.

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Lisa has put things into perspective after the last Christmas that they have been through. She and her husband are blessed upon receiving support and kindness from friends and strangers. Lisa told Good News Network that there is a lot to be thankful for, and she shared that "it is an antidote for fear."