Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Wunsch.
Hi barbara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up on a cherry and apple farm on Old Mission Peninsula and returned to the peninsula after I graduated from college. When I returned I began farming with my husband and worked off the farm as a dietitian in both acute care and long term care settings for over 30 years. During this time I offered a fruit and vegetable CSA shares on our farm for 10 years. I am currently active on our farm and my primary responsibilities include internet sales of cherries, annual apple upick including an apple donation program and step on narrating of bus tours on Old Mission Peninsula highlighting agriculture practices and land use.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many challenges. Farm land values have increased significantly on Old Mission Peninsula and our family has been supportive of selling developing rights to maintain farmland as farmland. Farming has new challenges every day. Most recently the cost of inputs (labor, fuel, fertilizer…)
have increased without an increase in the price paid for our end product. My husband passed away in 2018, at the same time we were making a major shift in our cherry operation from processed fruit to selling cherries as fresh fruit.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a 7th generation family farm. We specialize in producing high quality fruit to be marketed as fresh fruit. We have a large packing facility that continues to expand and we have invested in equipment that sorts and grades fruit. I am proud of the team of people we have put together who consistently produce high quality fruit. We care deeply about the land, our people and take pride in being able to distribute our fruit to a wide range of individuals.
What does success mean to you?
Being able to be strategic with decisions, embrace change, accept challenges and remain true to your mission.
