Osage Gardens: Colorado organic farm producing organic herbs and organic vegetables for organic markets

Income-producing organic farm with national accounts and strong cash flow

Organic farms have stirred a great deal of interest in the past several months, as people seek to purchase higher-quality food grown by local or regional vendors. Many people are not aware of the intricate nature of organic farming. They haven't fully investigated what it takes to grow a quality organic crop, much less set up the distribution system, the labor force, and the sales accounts.

All that work has been done with Osage Gardens, a thriving organic farm on the banks of the Colorado River near New Castle, Colorado. A great deal of ingenuity and a lot of hard work has gone into the creation of the organic greenhouses and fields of Osage Gardens. You might think that a 20-acre farm isn't very big, but wait until you tour it. There's a lot of activity in a fairly small space, and the amazing thing is that there is lots of room to grow bigger.

Did you know that a lot of our organic produce is grown in China? Yes, that's right, China. Of course, when vegetables and salad greens are grown in a developing country and flown half-way across the world to our supermarkets, there are bound to be quality-control issues--and those issues of freshness and quality are the reason why large organic food chains are starting accounts with Osage Gardens. (Let's not even cover the issue of whether or not organic food grown in China is actually grown to organic standards. This is the same country that adds melamine to flour and baby formula.)

Osage Gardens has a tightly controlled production schedule. Fresh herbs, tomatoes, and greens are picked, cleaned, packed, and shipped to local markets within 24 hours. Freshness is GUARANTEED. Basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, rosemary, and a total of 22 different product lines are shipped to major national accounts within a 6-hour driving radius. From their location on I-70, Osage Gardens can deliver fresh produce to Denver supermarkets in 3 hours, and Salt Lake City in less than 6 hours. Other buyers are negotiating deals to put Osage Gardens produce on flights to Chicago and New York, delivering to 5-star restaurants and organic markets in those major metropolitan areas.

I have personally toured this organic farm operation, and I came away very impressed. This is a complex operation and prospective buyers will want to study the books and the operation. Ownership will consult with new owners, and current management is in place and wants to stay on. This is a great investment property in a growing part of Colorado. There is ample room for expansion of the business, and strong systems in place for a successful investment.