Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1510342
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S "Maybe they go off and then say, 'I want to go back and live the life my parents and grandparents did,'" says Tori Jackson, a program admin- istrator with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. "Maybe it's a financial sacrifice but the lifestyle draws them back in." Especially in southern Maine, she notes, the evolution of a foodie culture, including interest in locally-grown prod- ucts, give farms a consistent customer base able to provide a living income. According to the latest numbers, in 2017, over 83% of Maine farms were family-owned and many are multi-generational. A focus has long been on vegetables and fruits. More recently, farms incor- porate livestock, grains and ornamentals, which diversifies revenue streams across the year and different markets. "A trend has been looking to that new niche," Jackson says. "We see gin- ger and herbs. Saffron was hot for a little while. And mushrooms. Farmers are looking to satisfy what consumer are looking for." 2 Monument Square, Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com Put Our Collaborative Approach to Work for You. NEW OFFICE. SAME VALUES. COLLABORATIVE BY DESIGN We designed our new office space with an open floor plan - unique for a commercial real estate firm - to encourage collaboration among our brokers. Our commitment to communication and teamwork is how we do business and build relationships with our clients. Our office space may have changed, but decade after decade, our values remain the same. We are a multi-generational wealth management firm. We define success by our positive impact on people's lives. We are Honest, Independent, Experienced. We are Back Cove Financial. (207) 541-9500 56 DEPOT ROAD, FALMOUTH, ME 04105 BACKCOVEFINANCIAL.COM MODERN WEALTH DESERVES A MODERN MINDSET. SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL NETWORK®, MEMBER FINRA/SIPC, A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Farm support T he UMaine Extension has devel- oped resiliency resources for farmers and spends time with farm- ers to facilitate conversations on top- ics like personal and financial health. For more information, visit "Farm Coaching: Supporting Relationships for Farm Success" on the UMaine Cooperative Extension website. Tori Jackson, a program administra- tor with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, says family farms are alive and well in Maine, despite challenges faced by any family-owned business compounded by the rigors of a weather-depen- dent industry. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F U M A I N E C O O P E R AT I V E E X T E N S I O N