Eckert AgriMarketing Newsletter

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June 2006

Stress? Already? Get It Under Control!

For many of you, the season has started, the market is open and you are probably already feeling overwhelmed. You resolved over the winter that you were not going to allow yourself to get so stressed. But how can you avoid it?

Let’s review some simple ideas!

1. You don’t have to do it all yourself – delegate! Most of you have key employees that could probably take on more. Don’t just talk about delegating –do it! Start with a few small tasks, give them good direction, tell them what you want done and give them a deadline. You are going to be pleasantly surprised-but then, that’s why you chose them! So trust them – and, put the task on their list and take it off yours.

2. Set aside some time to just be at your desk. Tell everyone-please, not to talk with you and don’t pass any calls through. It’s amazing the amount of paper work and decisions that you can accomplish if you don’t have distractions. Just two hours of uninterrupted time can get far more work done than you might think. By the way, don’t think that these hours have to come after 10 p.m. – try it during the day when your mind is fresher.

3. Go take a walk in the orchard–or the berry patch. Yes, just walk away from the hubbub for fifteen minutes and enjoy the farm and the beauty of what you offer your guests. It’s a time to clear your head or perhaps clarify what it is you want to accomplish. We all know the saying about “smelling the roses.” Well, we need to heed that advice ourselves.

You all are successful farm entrepreneurs that have taken on a retail business. Yes, retail can add huge demands to an already full day of farming-more decisions to be made, employees to train and manage, products to purchase, shelves to fill etc.

But you obviously enjoy the challenges of retail-you like the creative outlet-so just try to keep your stress levels down. You’ll be happier-your spouse will be happier-your kids will be happier-and your employees will be happier.

And I guess that means that your customers will have a happier experience visiting the farm!

For those of you that haven’t opened your doors yet – take heed – your time will come soon enough. Keep in mind these simple stress reducing suggestions.

Tip of the Hat

A special tip of the hat this month to Time Magazine writer, Michael Pollan, for his article in the June 12th issue titled "Six Rules for Eating Wisely."

Michael's Rule #5: "Shop at the Farmers' Market."

He says in his article: "You'll begin to eat foods in season, when they are at the peak of their nutrional value and flavor, and you'll cook, because you won't find anything processed or microwavable."

"You'll also be supporting farmers in your community, helping defend the countryside from sprawl, saving oil by eating food produced nearby and teaching your children that a carrot is a root, not a machine-lathed orange bullet that comes in a plastic bag. A lot more is going on at the farmers' market than the exchange of money for food."

Thanks, Michael. Well said.

Michael Pollan's newest book is "The Omnivore's Dilemma