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A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RYAN'S BERRY FARM -- For Sale by Kate Baird; Realtor & Jody Hudson; Kate Baird's Marketing Partner, Realtors of Delaware
NOW SOLD
For two of the greatest people
you will ever meet and a fabulous Bed and Breakfast Inn,
with horses and thousands of acres of surrounding
wildlife refuge: Please look here at
www.litetcheval.com
As Melodie and Ross the Inn
Keepers say: Welcome to
Lit Et Cheval Farm
(Bed and
Horse), A private gentlemen's country farm, adjacent to
the 6000 acre Great Cypress swamp. As Innkeepers we are
likely to start our day on the back porch listening to
the chimes of Bull frogs and song birds and enjoying the
serenity of the lush green and flowered grounds over
looking the pond. During the day we are busy tending the
52 acre farm, mowing, weeding and planting then
preparing for our guest. In the evening, the front porch
is the place to be, relaxing in the rocking chairs
watching the sun set over the blueberry fields and horse
pasture. We welcome you to come and experience first
hand our little bit of heaven in Delaware and see why
"everyone loves the farm".
LOCATED IN GROWING AREA of Sussex County Delaware, near the Delaware Beaches and just west of Bethany Beach Delaware.
Started in the early 1950's, Ryan's Berry Farm is a fully equipped and operational, 110 acre, family-oriented business, located in southern Delaware's Sussex County. Only a short, two hour drive from Baltimore, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C., the farm is within easy reach of the east coast's sizable population. We are also within 30 minutes of the Atlantic coast beach resorts on the Delmarva peninsula (only 25 miles from Ocean City, Maryland, which hosts more than 400,000 visitors each day during the summer.) Additionally, an extensive collection of outlet stores has recently been built along the newly expanded Ocean Highway (Rt. 1), drawing their own traffic beyond even the summer months.
Lying between Delaware's two primary north-south dual highways, thousands of resort-bound vacationers have discovered that our farm is right on the way to and from the beaches. With this beach traffic, plus a rapidly increasing local population, our customer base grows substantially each year. Our own farm's customer count has grown by 3,000 to 5,000 per year to its recent high of approximately 50,000, and our products have been in demand throughout the area. Unfortunately, our family labor has diminished to the point that we can no longer operate the farm properly and are now looking for another family to take over from us.
The nearest towns are Frankford, five miles to the east, and
Gumboro, five miles to the southwest. Small community churches of several denominations are in these and other nearby communities. Highly rated schools, within 6 miles of the farm, include both an elementary and high school. Many other schools are located only 10 miles away.
Hunting, fishing, and dozens of other outdoor activities all exist in the immediate area. Just across the road from the farm lies the Great Cypress Swamp, containing nearly 11,000 acres of woodlands, still in their natural state. Here is found abundant wildlife, such as deer, wild turkey, foxes, and Bald eagles. As an adjacent property owner, access to this area is readily available, with permission from the private owners. A local hunting lodge is only two miles down the road, and a private access road is one-half mile away.
DESCRIPTION
http://www.kate-jody.com/homes/ryansberryfarm.html
The farm includes the following:
65 acres of ground used for approximately 20,000 highbush blueberry bushes
5 acres of open farm land
2 acres of roadways and parking
38 acres of wooded land
3 irrigation wells
A large underground piping system for overhead irrigation
A 4100 sq.' modern house with 2 bdrm. apt.
A large shop building
A large equipment storage bldg.
A new 40' X 60' market building w/cold storage facilities & septic system as well as... All equipment for complete operation
http://www.kate-jody.com/homes/ryansberryfarmfarm.html
EXPANDING OPERATION
To keep pace with increasing customer demand, over the years we have expanded our plantings to now include a large variety of blueberry varieties. In addition to the farming operation, we also produce a full line of jams, preserves, and sauces from the fruit we grow on the farm; and we publish a specialty cookbook for berries. These items are sold throughout the area, as well as at the farm.
To handle the growing customer traffic, we recently built a 2400 square foot market and checkout facility. Space is provided in this building for a bakery, a jam factory, storage, and an office, in addition to a large sales area.
http://www.kate-jody.com/homes/ryansberryfarmmarket.html
FAMILY BASE NEEDED
For a family with high-school-age children or with relatives living nearby to provide full- or part-time labor in the summer and fall, this is a remarkable business opportunity. Many simple tasks, such as mowing or pruning, can be handled easily by children 14 years or older and are available throughout the year. Other relatives may find work with plants, or contact with our many customers, an enjoyable experience.
As a single man now, the rest of the family living elsewhere, I can no longer keep up with the workload; however, a family of three or four could easily take on what we have developed and watch it grow into a significant and highly profitable farming enterprise. Using reliable, family-based labor, the farm will easily pay for itself, with the net income potential for such a family operation reaching well into six-figures and increasing each year.
PURCHASE OPTIONS
The present selling price for everything, including all buildings and equipment is $778,000. The true value is actually just under 1 million dollars.
Although it would be most desirable for the entire farm to be owned and operated by one family, it is feasible to divide the operation into two parts, with one including a large, 4100 square foot modern home (which has within it a two bedroom apartment), a storage building, a shop building, and the surrounding 38 acres of wooded land. The price for this parcel is $389,000.
http://www.kate-jody.com/homes/ryansberryfarmhouse.html
We would also consider selling just the farming operation, which would include the blueberry planting, the equipment, and the market. The price for this parcel is also $389,000.
As you can see, we are flexible and remain open to any reasonable purchase arrangement which might be proposed. Although we would prefer an outright sale, owner financing is a possibility, based upon an appropriate down payment, successful credit check and periodic payments over the next ten years. These payments could be based upon a 20 year schedule, with a balloon at the end of the ten year period. Interest would be at 7.00%. To further reduce the up front cash requirement, various lease arrangements, involving land, equipment, or buildings, might be considered.
DETAILED PRODUCTION INFORMATION BLUEBERRIES - - Planted in the 1950's by Harrington and Miles
Messick, when blueberries were considered a significant crop on the Delmarva peninsula, the blueberry field was expanded gradually, until the last 3 acres were planted in about 1964. This brought the total original berry field to approximately 50 acres.
Since being purchased in 1977, 2.5 acres of a new, highly productive variety, known as Patriot, were planted on newly cleared ground. Additional varieties have now been planted, including Nelson, Blue Gold and,
Brigitta.
The 16 varieties currently grown are on a 70 acre section of the farm are comprised of the following:
Bluecrop...............approx. 12.5 ac.
Blueray..............approx. 9 ac.
1316A.....................approx. 7.5 ac.
Earliblue........ ....approx. 6 ac.
Berkley...................approx. 3.5 ac.
Jersey................approx. 2 ac.
Patriot.....................approx. 2.5 ac.
Bluetta...............approx. 1 ac.
Weymouth.................approx. 2 ac.
Brigitta .....approx. 2 ac.
Nelson ......approx. 1ac.
Blue Gold.......approx. 1 ac.
Approximately 80% of the blueberries harvested each season are sold directly to pick-your-own customers. The remainder is sold retail, or wholesale as already picked fruit, or is used in jam production. Gross profit from the blueberry field reached over $150,000 before we began cutting back, due lack of labor.
HONEY - - Each year approximately 800 pounds of blueberry honey is purchased from Fruitwood Orchards, in New Jersey. This is readily sold through our on-farm market. Gross sales are typically $1,100 per year.
COOKBOOKS - - In 1985, a blueberry cookbook was published, containing 190 recipes. The first copyrighted printing of 1000 was sold out in only a few weeks. A second printing of 500 was also sold out in the remaining several weeks of the 1985 season. Due to problems with the printing company, no additional books have been printed or sold since; however, a new printing of a revised edition was completed for the 1988 season. This edition has met with great success and has been reprinted several times. Over 3,000 copies have already been sold.
(NOTE: minor editing of the seller's original letter to me, above, has been done by Jody Hudson for our Web Site; as you see it here)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION e-mail to MrJodyHudson@earthlink.com
Contact Jody Hudson & Kate Baird
http://www.Kate-Jody.com
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