Food Farm Gardens

Three Partnership Pathways to Farming Success

Choose Your Level of Commitment and Community Involvement

FFG offers three distinct partnership models designed to meet different farmer goals, experience levels, and commitment preferences. Each pathway provides access to our heritage Plantation Succour site, but differs in market guarantees, community involvement, and long-term benefits.

Fresh Produce Focus - Ground to Table/Box

 Our Streamlined Approach:

  • Harvest-to-delivery within 24-48 hours for maximum freshness
  • No long-term storage requirements – reducing infrastructure costs and complexity
  • Peak freshness guarantee – vegetables delivered at optimal nutritional value
  • Simplified logistics – direct from farm to CSA box or The Keys Market
  • Reduced post-harvest losses – minimizing waste and maximizing farmer income

Benefits for Farmers:

  • Focus on growing, not storing – concentrate on production quality
  • Immediate harvest-to-payment cycle – faster cash flow
  • No investment in storage infrastructure – lower startup costs
  • Reduced spoilage risk – guaranteed fresh product movement
  • Quality premium pricing – fresh produce commands higher prices

Pathway 1: Land Only Partnership

Independent Farming with Full Autonomy

Perfect for: Experienced farmers who want complete operational control and prefer to manage their own marketing and sales.

✅ What You Get:

  • Premium land access at heritage Plantation Succour site
  • Basic water access points (farmers provide own storage solutions)
  • Complete independence in crop selection and farming practices
  • Full control over marketing, pricing, and sales channels
  • Heritage site benefits including cultural and educational value
  • Flexible commitment with standard lease terms
  • Ground to table/box focus – no storage complexity required
  • Rainwater harvesting consultation – technical advice and assistance available

❌ What You Don’t Get:

  • No guaranteed markets – you handle all customer acquisition
  • No marketing support from FFG team
  • No cooperative benefits like bulk purchasing or shared equipment
  • No direct CSA payments – independent revenue only
  • No technical support beyond basic land access
Pathway 1: Land Only Partnership
PositionLandAnnual price
Starter300m² $660
Standard500m²$900
Pro1000m²$1,600
Enterprise 11 acre$9,800
Enterprise 22 acres$17,000
Enterprise 33 acres$22,000
 Income Potential Breakdown
PositionMonthly Annually
Starter$67 – $167$800 – $2,000
Standard$150 – $275$1,800 – $3,300
Pro$333 – $667$4,000 – $8,000
Enterprise 1$1,000 – $2,083$12,000 – $25,000
Enterprise 2$2,083 – $3,333$25,000 – $40,000
Enterprise 3$3,333 – $4,167$40,000 – $50,000

Pathway 2: CSA Partnership

Guaranteed Markets with Direct Payment Benefits

Perfect for: Farmers who want income security through guaranteed CSA contracts with immediate payment for every food box delivered.

✅ What You Get:

  • 17% land discount compared to Land Only rates
  • Guaranteed CSA market with predictable demand
  • Immediate payment for every CSA food box delivered
  • Zero marketing costs – FFG handles all customer relationships
  • Technical support including organic certification assistance
  • Rainwater harvesting systems – design and implementation support
  • Cooperative purchasing benefits reducing input costs 15-20%
  • Quality bonus opportunities for premium produce
  • Ground to table/box system – harvest today, deliver tomorrow

❌ What You’re Committed To (!) :

  • Production quotas meeting CSA quality standards and delivery schedules
  • Organic practices and certification requirements
  • Participation in farmer network meetings and knowledge sharing
  • Heritage variety commitment and sustainable farming practices
  • Seasonal planning aligned with CSA member expectations
Pathway 2: CSA Partnership (box delivered)
PositionLandDiscountBasic Price Incl. Emergency support
Starter300m²17%$550$610
Standard500m²17%$750$850
Pro1000m²17%$1,300$1,450
Enterprise 11 acre17%$8,100$8,395
Enterprise 22 acres17%$14,200$14,665
Enterprise 33 acres17%$18,250$18,975
 Income Potential Breakdown
PositionMonthlyAnnually
Starter$58 – $175$700 – $2,100
Standard$117 – $311$1,400 – $3,733
Pro$233 – $700$2,800 – $8,400
Enterprise 1$778 – $1,167$9,333 – $14,000
Enterprise 2$1,556 – $2,917$18,667 – $35,000
Enterprise 3$2,333 – $4,667$28,000 – $56,000
🌟Payment Benefits:
  • Immediate payment per CSA food box delivered
  • 50-60% profit margins per box after expenses
  • Weekly cash flow during production seasons
  • Quality bonuses for premium produce ratings
  • Additional revenue streams through The Keys Market sales

Pathway 3: CSA + Cooperative Partnership

Full Community Ownership and Enhanced Benefits

Perfect for: Farmers committed to community-driven agriculture, cooperative principles, and maximizing cost savings through shared resources.

What You Get – All CSA Benefits Plus:

  • Advanced rainwater harvesting systems – full design and installation support
  • Enhanced bulk purchasing power reducing input costs 15-25%
  • Shared equipment access eliminating individual investment needs
  • Cooperative branding for premium market positioning
  • Group insurance rates for crop protection and liability
  • Priority technical support and advanced training opportunities
  • Export market opportunities through collective bargaining
  • Emergency support during hurricanes and recovery periods
  • Leadership opportunities in community development and training
  • Streamlined fresh produce system – no storage complexity

❌ What You’re Committed To (!):

  • Full CSA production commitment plus cooperative participation
  • Active participation in cooperative meetings and decision-making
  • Leadership responsibilities including mentoring new farmers
  • Cooperative principles adherence and shared accountability
  • Community service requirements and volunteer commitments
Pathway 3: CSA + Cooperative Partnership 
PositionLandDiscountAnnual price
Starter300m²17%$650
Standard500m²17%$900
Pro1000m²17%$1,550
Enterprise 11 acre17%$8,600
Enterprise 22 acres17%$14,915
Enterprise 33 acres17%$19,250
 Income Potential Breakdown
PositionMonthlyAnnually
Starter$83 – $208$1,000 – $2,500
Standard$150 – $350$1,800 – $4,200
Pro$292 – $750$3,500 – $9,000
Enterprise 1$833 – $1,333$10,000 – $16,000
Enterprise 2$1,667 – $3,167$20,000 – $38,000
Enterprise 3$2,500 – $5,000$30,000 – $60,000
🌟 Enhanced Benefits:
  • Bulk purchasing savings of $500-3,500 annually depending on tier
  • Shared equipment access saving $2,000-15,000 in individual investments
  • Group insurance rates reducing individual coverage costs
  • Cooperative marketing for premium positioning and export opportunities

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature

Land Only

CSA Partnership

CSA + Cooperative

Land Discount

17%

17%

Guaranteed Market

Per Box Payment

Marketing Support

Fresh Produce Focus

Bulk Purchasing

15-20% savings

15-25% savings

Shared Equipment

Group Insurance

Export Opportunities

Emergency Support

Basic

Enhanced (+fee)

Full (included)

Commitment Level

Low

Medium

High

Community Involvement

None

Moderate

High

Additional Income Opportunities

Beyond CSA Box Payments – Scale Your Success!

All partnership types can access additional revenue streams through our fresh produce focus:

The Keys Market Direct Sales:
  • Starter-Pro tiers: +$1,000-5,000 annually
  • Enterprise tiers: +$3,000-12,000 annually
  • Keep 90% of sales (10% market fee)
  • Premium pricing for organic, heritage varieties
  • Same-day harvest sales – morning harvest, afternoon market sales
  • Direct farmer-customer connection – building trust and loyalty
Specialty Crop Premiums:
  • Herbs and spices: +$1,500-4,000 annually
  • Heritage varieties: +$2,000-6,000 annually
  • Medicinal plants: +$1,000-3,000 annually
  • Microgreens: +$500-2,000 annually
  • Fresh-cut premium – no storage, maximum freshness value
Value-Added Processing:
  • Fresh-prepared items: +$2,000-8,000 annually
  • Herb bundles: +$1,000-4,000 annually
  • Fresh juice blends: +$1,500-6,000 annually
  • Ready-to-cook packages: +$3,000-10,000 annually
Agri-Tourism Integration:
  • Farm tours: +$2,000-8,000 annually
  • Fresh harvest experiences: +$1,000-5,000 annually
  • Educational programs: +$1,500-7,000 annually
  • Heritage experiences: +$2,000-10,000 annually

Total Income Potential with Additional Streams

Tier

CSA Base Income

Additional Opportunities

Total Annual Potential

Starter

$700-2,100

+$4,000-14,000

Up to $16,100

Standard

$1,400-3,733

+$5,500-17,000

Up to $20,733

Pro

$2,800-8,400

+$7,000-23,000

Up to $31,400

Enterprise 1

$9,333-14,000

+$9,500-28,000

Up to $42,000

Enterprise 2

$18,667-35,000

+$15,000-45,000

Up to $80,000

Enterprise 3

$28,000-56,000

+$20,000-60,000

Up to $116,000<

The Keys Market Integration

Fresh Produce Showcase:

  • Same-day harvest sales – early morning harvest, morning and afternoon market sales
  • Fresh produce showcase – demonstrating quality to CSA prospects
  • Direct farmer-customer connection – building trust and loyalty
  • Immediate feedback loop – farmers learn customer preferences quickly
  • 90% revenue retention – farmers keep maximum profit from direct sales
  • No storage complexity – focus on growing, not storing

Customer Development Pipeline:

  • Market customers become CSA members – natural progression
  • Quality demonstration – customers see freshness firsthand
  • Relationship building – personal connections drive CSA sign-ups
  • Seasonal transitions – market sales complement CSA schedules

Available Opportunities

Small Plot Program:

  • Starter Tier (300m²): 13 plots available
  • Standard Tier (500m²): 8 plots available
  • Pro Tier (1000m²): 4 plots available

Enterprise Program:

  • 1 Acre Partnership: 1 available
  • 2 Acre Partnership: 1 available
  • 3 Acre Partnership: 1 available

Special Programs:

  • Qredits Agriloan Program – Up to $50,000 at 2% interest for Sint Maarten agricultural entrepreneurs to start or expand farming operations. Key Partners: RVO.nl, Sint Maarten Government, TWO, TEATT, Sofin, and Qredits More info: Agriloan | StMaarten.qredits.com
  • Emerging Farmer Training: 100m² plots for skill development

Making Your Choice

Choose Land Only Partnership if you:

  • Have established marketing channels and customer relationships
  • Prefer complete independence in crop selection and pricing
  • Want to test FFG’s land quality before deeper commitment
  • Have existing equipment and supplier relationships
  • Value operational flexibility over guaranteed income
  • Can handle fresh produce marketing without storage complexity

Choose CSA Partnership if you:

  • Want guaranteed income without market volatility risk
  • Prefer to focus on production rather than marketing
  • Value immediate payments per food box delivered
  • Are interested in cooperative purchasing benefits
  • Want to build toward potential cooperative membership
  • Appreciate the fresh produce, no-storage business model
  • Want enhanced emergency support for agricultural protection (additional fee applies)

Choose CSA + Cooperative Partnership if you:

  • Are committed to maximizing cost savings through shared resources
  • Want the highest income potential through enhanced benefits
  • Value community decision-making and cooperative principles
  • Believe in collective bargaining and export opportunities
  • Are dedicated to Caribbean food sovereignty and heritage preservation
  • Want to lead the fresh produce revolution in Caribbean agriculture

Income Progression Pathway

Typical 5-Year Farmer Journey:

Year 1 (Starter)
$700-2,100 annually – Learning organic practices, building skills

Year 2 (Standard) 
$1,400-3,733 annually – Expanding production, developing expertise

Year 3 (Pro)
$2,800-8,400 annually – Commercial-level production, leadership roles

Year 4 (Enterprise 1)
$9,333-14,000 annually – Full-time farming potential

Year 5+ (Enterprise 2-3)
$18,667-56,000 annually – Successful farming business

 
Success Factors for Maximum Income:
  • Consistent quality production meeting CSA standards
  • Active participation in cooperative benefits and training
  • Diversification into specialty crops and value-added products
  • Community engagement creating additional opportunities
  • Continuous learning through HAICI School and workshops
  • Fresh produce focus – harvest today, deliver tomorrow

Decision-Making Framework

Consider Your:

  1. Experience Level: New farmers benefit from CSA support and guaranteed markets
  2. Financial Goals: Higher income potential with cooperative benefits and additional streams
  3. Risk Tolerance: CSA partnerships eliminate market volatility risk, and emergency support fee vs. potential storm losses
  4. Community Values: Cooperative membership for those valuing shared success
  5. Time Commitment: Cooperative requires more community participation
  6. Long-term Vision: Wealth building through progressive tier advancement
  7. Storage Preferences: Fresh produce focus eliminates storage complexity
Start Small, Scale Up!

Most successful farmers begin with Starter or Standard tiers to learn FFG’s systems, then expand to larger plots and upgrade partnership levels as they gain experience and see results.

Global Competitiveness

Caribbean Benchmark Comparison:

  • Caribbean Traditional Farming earns: $3,000-15,000/year
  • SXM Median Household Income: $36,500/year

FFG Farmer Performance:

  • Enterprise 1: $9,333-14,000/year (38% of SXM median)
  • Enterprise 2: $18,667-35,000/year (96% of SXM median)
  • Enterprise 3: $28,000-56,000/year (153% of SXM median!)

All tiers remain competitive with Caribbean standards while providing clear progression to above-median incomes.

Why FFG's Fresh Produce Model Works

Operational Advantages:

  • No storage infrastructure required – lower startup costs
  • Immediate harvest-to-payment cycle – better cash flow
  • Peak nutritional value delivery – premium pricing justified
  • Reduced spoilage risk – guaranteed product movement
  • Simplified logistics – direct farm-to-customer connection

Market Advantages:

  • Premium fresh pricing – customers pay more for quality
  • Customer loyalty – fresh produce builds trust
  • Competitive differentiation – freshness as unique selling point
  • Scalable model – works from starter to enterprise level

Ready to choose your pathway? Each option provides a clear route to farming success while contributing to Caribbean food sovereignty and heritage preservation at our historic Plantation Succour site.

Our fresh produce focus means you can start farming immediately without complex storage investments – just focus on growing the best vegetables Sint Maarten has ever tasted!

 

Ready to secure your spot in FFG’s farmer partnership program?

Fresh. Local. Heritage. Profitable.
Your journey from ground to table starts here.

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