Nancy and John Hayden’s farm is aptly named. Half way between the villages of Cambridge and Jeffersonville, The Farm Between has undergone a transition from livestock and vegetables to organic fruit production and a fruit nursery. For the first twenty years, the Haydens marketed their farm products via a successful CSA, an on-farm market, a Smuggler’s Notch farmstand, and participated in numerous farmers markets.

Several years ago, the farm began building out 3 acres of fruit production and 14 acres of pollinator sanctuary. Applying their years of agricultural and marketing experience to their new crops, the Haydens soon found themselves with numerous wholesale customers like Boyden Valley Winery and the Intervale Food Hub, as well as a loyal following at the Burlington Farmer’s Market for their fresh fruit, jams, syrups, snow cones and fountain drinks.

When the Haydens were ready to leave their off-farm careers in 2013, they started looking seriously at how they were going to create a financially sound business from their fruit farm that could provide a sustainable livelihood for the final phase of their farming career.

Working with the Vermont Farm Viability Program, the couple put together a plan that would enable them to augment their fruit production with an on-farm nursery and provide uncommon fruit plants to other farmers looking to diversify their production.

Nancy and John applied to the Vermont Farm Fund for a $10,000 Business Builder Loan to help jump start this plan. The loan will enable them to not only build their inventory for sale and propagation, but also to fix up their retail area, buy necessary equipment and do a bit of marketing.

The VFF funds will enable us to expand our fruit nursery business faster than we might otherwise have been able to, increasing both our sales and profitability.
–John and Nancy Hayden

With their plan and funding in place, the farm is looking to position itself as a resource for farmers who want to take advantage of the growing fruit demand from the budding Vermont specialty beverage industry. They will also provide quality plants and advice from their many years as commercial farmers to home owners who want to grow their own fruit.

Photos courtesy of The Farm Between