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Internet Helps Sisters Boost Organic Herb Business

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: December 24, 2008

WIMAUMA - Until February, sisters Susan Bishop and Kathy Oliver sold their organic herbs and produce the old-fashioned way - person-to-person. But thanks to a conference workshop they attended in Kentucky, their sales efforts now include the Internet.

In less than a year, their overall sales are up 20 percent.

"The Internet is the way the world is going," said Bishop, 49. "Any business today needs an online presence to survive. We get new customers every month now."

Bishop said she and Oliver, 48, came home from the conference pumped about creating an online farmers market similar to that of Eric Wagoner of Athens, Ga., who spoke at the workshop.

Wagoner's concept was that producers and growers, even craftsmen, could sell products online from one Web site and then bring them to a central location where customers could pick up the items.

"The idea is to keep things local by replicating a farmers market," Bishop said.

She and Oliver agreed to pay Wagoner 3 percent of their sales to use his software, which they customized to make their own site: www.mymothers garden.locallygrown.net.

Here's how it works:

By Monday night of each week, the sisters and several other area growers describe what's available, how much they have to sell and how much they want for it. They generally supply photos of each item.

Registered customers place their orders Tuesday through Thursday. The system calculates their total and provides a confirmation number via e-mail. Then the growers get an e-mail so they know how much to harvest.

On Friday morning, the products are brought to Bishop at the farm in Wimauma, where she assembles customer baskets and delivers them to Sun City Center Home for pickup from 1 to 5 p.m.

"It works out great for everyone," Bishop said. "The growers are happy because I pay them when they drop off their products. I'm happy because the customers pay me when they pick up the baskets. And the customers are happy because they get farm-fresh produce, herbs and other items at a greatly reduced price."

My Mother's Garden online market offers organic farm produce, fresh herbs and nonorganic produce from the Tampa Wholesale Market, naturally and humanely raised Murray Grey grass-fed beef cattle and Tamworth hogs, and homemade sauces and jellies.

"We're still looking for small producers and backyard growers to join our organization," Bishop said. "And, of course, we want to keep adding customers."

ABOUT MY MOTHER'S GARDEN

WHAT: Certified organic herb and produce business since 1992

WHERE: 3819 County Road 579, Wimauma

OWNERS: Kathy Oliver, 48, and Susan Bishop, 49; 90-acre family farm owned by their mother, Pat Alexander, 78, since 1978

OTHER PRODUCTS: Certified organic, edible flowers and salad greens; Murray Grey grass-fed beef cattle, pastured Berkshire pigs and Tamworth hogs

COMING: Shitake mushrooms, 2009

ONLINE: visit www.mymothersgarden. locallygrown.net

INFORMATION: Call 642-0191 or e-mail mymothersgarden@ij.net.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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