History Of Rising Sun Farms

The Roots of the Farm

    After ten years of college coupled with seven years in big business, it became clear that there was more to life than a good job. In 1976, Elizabeth signed on as a cook on ocean racing yachts. This provided a way to travel to ports throughout the world and shop fresh markets offering a variety of exotic ingredients. Although her cooking expertise was not her best asset, Elizabeth soon became well known within the circle of yacht racers for menus using the freshest ingredients and in particular, fresh herbs. Word of her culinary creations and status as a chef traveled with the winds. Elizabeth started receiving requests for her recipes and, as a way to finance continued travels, she began making and selling gallons of pesto sauces to other yachts.

    In 1980, Elizabeth met her husband Richard, a ship captain in the West Indies. They sailed the East and West Coasts, looking for the perfect place to drop anchor. Soon their first crewmember arrived, daughter Caylei. Sailing had always been their life; however, they needed to put down roots. Thus began the search for a healthy environment to retire and raise a family.

    They chose a remote pristine farm in Southern Oregon. Their deep-seated quest to raise a family in a clean environment and duplicate their seafaring standard of self-responsibility and self-sufficiency had been realized. By this time, their son Pep had joined them on the farm.

    Their retirement was short lived however, as new challenges lay ahead. The land and farm equipment purchases had depleted their savings. How was the farm going to provide a living? What crop would grow at the farm's 3,000-foot elevation with hot, dry summers and mild winters? Their research coupled with an ever-expanding library of organic farming manuals provided the answer…herbs!

The Need

    There was a discernable lack of organic foods, especially, organically grown fresh herbs, herb plants, dried herbs and specialty herb products. The use of chemicals in farming was increasing and was a major concern to Elizabeth and Richard. Using chemicals yielded bigger harvests, cut down on labor, but what hazards did their consumption pose to people? The idea of putting poison on food was out of the question! Their mission became clear.

Mission Statement Evolved

Provide healthy food utilizing the highest quality clean ingredients while supporting organic and sustainable agriculture. Our actions today will influence the seventh generation. We must take care of our mother earth now for the children of today and tomorrow.

The First Products

    In 1984 in a yurt (nomadic Mongolian tent), using a generator to operate a small food processor, the first fresh pesto sauces (using their organically grown basil) were manufactured for a local market by Rising Sun Farms. The response was so positive and the demand so great that it necessitated a larger, certified kitchen. A small manufacturing plant was built on the farm. Soon the products extended to include a variety of pesto sauces, dried tomatoes, cheese tortas, vinaigrettes, oils and vinegars.
 

A Broader Horizon

    Rising Sun Farms' vision broadened over the horizon to larger metropolitan areas on the West Coast. The health food industry was just emerging, the gourmet industry was getting better organized, and the grocery business was expanding to include gourmet and health foods. Educated consumers were becoming more interested in healthy, convenient, chemical-free foods with informative and exciting packaging. Rising Sun Farms' products were perfect. However, what Richard and Elizabeth needed was distribution.

Inspiration!

    Looking for the "big sale," a presentation was made to a gourmet food distributor in Portland Oregon. It was at this meeting that the strategy was revealed which became the marketing plan for the expansion of the business. The distributor proclaimed, "I love your products and the packaging is superior, however, no one has asked for your products." Eureka…inspiration! Get your consumers…retailers and distributors will follow.

Getting the Consumers

    The family team assembled and started tasting and selling their products at consumer shows, farmers' markets and craft fairs along the West Coast. The direct sales approach as the "Farmers You Could Trust" growing organic herbs and making delicious products of consistent quality brought a loyal following to Rising Sun Farms. Customer education was foremost. Little was known or understood about "organic" products and, for that matter, pesto sauce…however, the convenience and flavor sold them. The consumer shows provided cash flow while the family turned all of their "loyal consumers" into their sales force. Consumers were given cards to take to their local stores, requesting that the markets carry Rising Sun Farms' products. The strategy worked! Retailers and distributors followed. Today Rising Sun Farms has distribution throughout the United States and exports to Mexico and Canada.

Growing Pains

     Business grew rapidly and the herb beds proliferated. However, the manufacturing plant proved to be too small and too remote. More manufacturing space was necessary with offices, storage, and a loading dock. In 1991, Richard and Elizabeth bought another farm that was more accessible to labor and transportation. They did extensive building renovations under the supervision of the FDA and Oregon State Health inspectors. This is the current home of Rising Sun Farms; nestled in mountains of Southern Oregon between Ashland and Medford.

    Sales boomed! Additional equipment and employees were added. The growing business necessitated a major expansion in 2000 with the addition of 12,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. Rising Sun Farms now enjoys a 20,000 square foot facility.

Employees

    Rising Sun Farms is dedicated to their employees and their families, providing them with a healthy place to work, benefits, training, education and wages to sustain their families. This philosophy has built a strong, loyal and dedicated team over the years. Richard and Elizabeth's most sacred award (of their 20+) came from their employees as "Employer of the Year"! Their employees are their most valuable asset and are always referred to as "The Can Do Crew."

Branded Products

    The majority of Rising Sun Farms specialty food products are branded. These include six Pesto Sauces, twelve Cheese Tortas (layered cheeses), and seven Balsamic Drizzles. Most of the products are available in retail and food service packaging.

Quality Assurance

    In 1992, Rising Sun Farms found it necessary to go beyond organic certification to meet personal and corporate missions to always insure the highest quality products to their loyal consumers. How are they achieving this mission? Rising Sun Farms has an independent laboratory test every ingredient for chemical and pesticide residues. All dairy suppliers must certify that their ingredients are rBGH free. Rising Sun Farms has a no GMO policy. Any ingredient that fails any of the testing is not used. They guarantee to their consumers that they take every step to bring them the very best products -- with a quality you can taste. An innovative and successful step in marketing and quality assurance!

    Rising Sun Farms has manufactured products for the Japanese market. This market is very difficult for most food companies to penetrate due to the very strict regulations governing preservative and additives in food products. Rising Sun Farms products have passed all of the scrutiny and required lab analysis.

Future Plans

    Rising Sun Farms for years has been ahead of the markets by recognizing and setting industry trends. Their vision that natural and organic foods will penetrate the gourmet and grocery market places has arrived and is growing. As these industries merge, fueled by demand from the educated consumer, Rising Sun Farms is prepared to meet the demands with the highest level of manufacturing standards.

Conclusion

    Rising Sun Farms has always been a leader with innovative products that add to consumer's quality of life with a high regard for safe agriculture practices, paving the path to a sustainable planet for our generations to come.