Homegrown Gourmet Takes Off

Riding the garden veggies wave, Schmidt Brothers Farm & Greenhouse in Swanton, Ohio, reports a 30 percent increase in sales of its Homegrown Gourmet brand this year. The brand is marketed to other growers through broker Henry F. Michell. "We've gained a lot of business from grower-retailers, which may be the market we really want," says Allan Schmidt, who is in charge of sales and marketing. New this year will be a 3- by 4-foot sign to show consumers all the varieties of tomatoes available and their traits and uses.

In addition to the encouraging results in garden vegetables, Schmidt and his family are looking forward to producing flowering plants for Master Nursery's Garden Elements brand, available to its member garden centers.