Herbanleaf Farms
Limassol, Cyprus | EST. 2018
Farmer
Myrianthi Oxtoby
No. of Farms
One
Business model
Resorts, hotels, restaurants, online marketplace
Area Served
Cyprus
Main Crops
Lettuce mixes, mustard greens,
kale, pac choi, and herbs
About HerbanLeaf Farms
In many ways, HerbanLeaf Farms is your typical family farm–everyone pitches in to help the farm and business stay successful. However, the family is also using their innovative hydroponic farming platform to make Cyprus a more independent island. Like most small island communities in the world, Cyprus relies heavily on imports for fresh food. This reliance is exacerbated by the island’s environment: brutal heat and arid conditions in the summer, strong destructive rains in the winter. HerbanLeaf Farms is able to grow food in spite of these limiting factors.
Pre-COVID, HerbanLeafs top customers were hotels, restaurants, and resorts that were part of Cyprus’s bustling tourism industry. As many of these outlets have closed their doors, Myrianthi pivoted to selling direct-to-consumer online. Regardless of who her customers are, everyone is excited about the quality of produce Myrianthi can grow–fresh and crisp greens are not always widely available, making HerbanLeaf Farms’ product stand out.
“I saw the value in selling to the community–there was a gap in the market for a healthy alternative, something that’s fresh and full of flavor.”
- Myrianthi Oxtoby, HerbanLeaf Farms Co-Owner & Operator
Learn more about HerbanLeaf Farms
HerbanLeaf Farms Webinar
Myrianthi takes listeners through how HerbanLeaf Farms is working towards a more sustainable future for their island community and the journey to getting a container farm to the island. Additionally, she shares hear how the family had to pivot their business due to COVID - 19 without losing any momentum!
This family is farming to make Cyprus a self-sufficient island
The Timveos-Oxtoby family is committed to bringing fresh food to the arid island of Cyprus! They see their hydroponic farm as a direct way to combat the island’s drought-prone climate and dependence on imported goods!
Growing independence–how container farms can help islands become self-sufficient
One of the most pressing issues island communities face is a lack of local food production due to space, climate, and weather restrictions. As a result, many island communities rely on imported food which creates instability within the local food system.
Create a Successful Small Farm Business
Like HerbanLeaf Farms, many Freight Farmers sold to customers in the hospitality industry before pivoting to direct-to-consumer during the pandemic. As restaurants open back up, it is possible to sell to both! Chefs and restaurant managers are very interested in sourcing farm-to-table, and your ability to grow year-round helps them stabilize their costs while getting great quality every time. At the same time, the average consumer is more motivated than ever to purchase health and locally-sourced food, and many platforms for online ordering and CSAs are now readily available.
Clawson Greens
Dave Ridill’s farms are located in the remote mountains of Idaho, making access to fresh food very limited, especially during the winter. As a result, he has several successful relationships with local restaurants and ski resorts, many of which closed or limited their orders in March 2020. Dave was able to quickly pivot his business to a drive-through farmers market model and has since re-built his business as a hybrid.
MGM Greens & Vintage Year Hospitality
MGM Greens is operated by two hospitality industry experts–Vintage Year owner Judd Blout and his Executive Chef Eric Rivera–who decided it’s not enough to source hyperlocal produce: they wanted to grow it themselves! Owner and Chef share their reasons for investing in hydroponic farms, and how growing their own produce unlocks their business and creative potential.
Helpful Guides
How to Keep Your Small Business Profitable During COVID-19
COVID-19 has disrupted countless industries, but the food and restaurant industry is amongst those that are hardest hit. With the closures of restaurants, many small farmers have to get creative with how to stay in business–we’re summarizing the most effective strategies!
Starting a Farm in 9 Simple Steps
Regardless of who you are and where you’ve been, you have arrived at Freight Farms because you believe in making waves, disrupting the food system, and providing fresh, local, and delicious produce year-round.
Get in touch!
We would love to hear from you about your farming project. Contact us for customized information tailored for your unique needs.