Success Story: Ashley TenHarmsel, North Harvest CSA

From the moment Ashley and Jake TenHarmsel did a Colorado internship at a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, they fell in love with the concept of growing locally and giving back to the community. So when family ties brought them back to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, they established North Harvest CSA.

Working with their Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) consultant, Daniel Yoder, the TenHarmsels found the perfect property and a way to purchase it. “I wish we had worked with the MI-SBDC sooner,” says Ashley. “When I wanted to write a business plan and couldn’t quite articulate what I wanted, Daniel was great at finding just the right way to say it.”

NorthHarvest CSA sells the community shares early in the season to offset startup costs, and has grown from selling only vegetables to also growing fruit and flowers, and offering value-added products such as apple cider vinegar and sourdough bread. The TenHarmsels were married on the property, have hosted farm-to-table events and hope North Harvest CSA will become an event destination for others in the future.

As a farmer, Ashley put it best: “Thank you to the MI-SBDC for helping us grow our business.”

Learn more about North Harvest CSA here.