Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan and Cassie Whitehead, owners of Twin Rivers Farm, located in Thessalon, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a family-run, U-pick berry farm. We provide strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for families anywhere from Sault Ste Marie to Elliot lake.
Tell us about yourself
Ryan and I and our three kids bought the farm in 2019 when we were searching for a change in our lifestyle. We were living a fast-paced life in Muskoka, heading in a direction that would move us up in our careers but farther away from time together as a family.
We want to live a simple yet full life together. We had no prior experience but knew with dedication and hard work; it was worth it. Now we work together every day and love every minute of it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
One of our biggest accomplishments is bringing this farm back to its full potential. It was run down and neglected when we bought it, but we have worked hard to bring it back to life and provide the best quality berries possible to our customers. Providing healthy food and the experience to go with it:
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things in this type of business is all of the elements that are out of our control. The weather being a big one along with COVID has proven to be two of our biggest challenges. We have had to adapt and grow/ change the way things are typically done to adjust to these challenges.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be ready to work hard/long hours. You have to be willing to put in the work.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
- Do something you love. Running a business is hard work, but if you love what you do, it makes it a whole lot easier to keep going when things get hard.
Where can people find you and your business?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twinriversberries/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinriversberries/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
