Former construction worker starts successful hydroponic venture
He was working in construction in Arkansas and decided to move his family to northern Indiana to open an auto glass business.
That was March 2009, in the midst of the Great Recession. “We got a lot of crazy looks,” he said.
Business boomed. “That gave us the opportunity to do this,” he said.
“This” is Yoders Produce Farm, a greenhouse that started at just under 4,000 square feet to raise a variety of greens. As lettuce sales grew, the greenhouse now has a second identical roof that expanded it to nearly 8,000 square feet and a growing collection of fresh herbs.
Yoder is trying to keep up with demand for the greens that are sold at most of the Martin’s stores in the region, as well as at E & S Sales in Shipshewana, Maple City Market in Goshen, Grandma’s Pantry in Wakarusa and a few smaller markets. Constant Spring, a restaurant and bar in Goshen, just started as Yoder’s first wholesale account. “Martin’s is our main customer,” he said, though what is available varies from store to store based on what the produce managers in each one choose.
Initially, he ran the business with his wife and four daughters, but they’ve hired part-time employees to help with harvest and packaging two days per week. “We were out here until midnight Wednesday nights,” he said in the greenhouse a few miles east of Goshen.
“It’s growing faster than I can put buildings up,” he said. “To me it’s because it’s fresh. It looks good.” He has approval to put up a total of five greenhouse bays, essentially making one giant greenhouse.
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