Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I I N O. I X M AY 4 , 2 0 2 6 14 B U S I N E S S S U C C E S S I O N / T R A N S I T I O N F O C U S built, Norris and Wiggs have been winding down. Now in their mid-70s, Wiggs focuses on her thriving flower business, selling bouquets at local venues. Norris is maintaining the orchard. e lease to Drew and Bolter includes the lower fields, two greenhouses, two tractors and tools. e younger couple previously farmed in Ohio, then Alaska, before reaching out to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardens Association in search of a long-term opportunity in Maine. e association put them in touch with Norris and Wiggs. ey're exploring dozens of crops this first year, starting with a half-acre with an eye toward expansion. Wiggs and Norris primarily sold at farmers markets and took weekly, pay- as-you-go orders from about 100 locals. Bolter and Drew have implemented a community-supported agriculture model that enrolls members who pre-pay for a whole season's worth of produce, then collect food from the farm throughout the season, thus providing a guaranteed income. "Anna and Nathaniel are making good use of it," says Norris. "e market is there. Whatever you grow, selling it is not a problem." Handshake lease In the Knox County town of Hope, Anna and Kyle Rittenburg purchased Hope Orchards from longtime owner- operators Brien and Emily Davis. e Rittenburgs previously leased a portion of the land for several years as they established their vegetable farm, AK Produce. ey plan to expand their offer- ings and they envision a year-round farm operation, which will continue to include apple picking in the autumn. e Rittenburgs, originally from upstate New York, met at Unity College, where they studied sustain- able agriculture. "It was dream to have a farm in one form or another," says Anna. Four years ago, an opportunity to buy a farm down the road from Hope Orchards fell through. en they met the Davises through Anna's parents. "One door closed and another one opened," says Kyle. Terms of the handshake lease were easy. "We gave them free vegetable CSA share. at's all they were asking for," says Kyle. e Rittenburgs slowly grew a vegetable business on part of the land and eventually started managing the apple orchard. e Davises incubated the business, providing equipment and training. "We were there a few years, getting to know the Davises and figuring what we all wanted to see happen," says Kyle. e Rittenburgs tapped Maine Farmland Trust resources to gain busi- ness expertise and the professional ser- vices they needed to buy the farm. e deal finalized in January. Financing included a loan with favorable terms through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, a conventional loan from Ancorum Credit Union and a 5% down payment from the Rittenburgs. Advice for seekers? "Working with Maine Farmland Trust, taking their course and working with the Farm Service Agency really made it possible to do this," says Anna. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E It's a tangible way to be active in creating the world you want to be in. — Ellen Sabina Maine Farmland Trust P H O T O / L A U R I E S C H R E I B E R P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E FA R M L A N D T R U S T Anna Drew and Nathaniel Bolter took a one- year trial lease at Clayfield Farm in Blue Hill. Ellen Sabina of Maine Farmland Trust says farm business succession can be more complex than other business succession because it involves not only the business but also the land.

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