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10.11.05

By KATE GREGORY

CHESTERTOWN, Md.- There is much variation in the bean size of this year’s soybean crop. The recent drought has proved to cause significant size loss to soybean crops across the state. For Chesapeake Fields (CF), this dimension variation in product may result in more barriers of entry into international markets.
“Size is important in the Asian market,” explained John Hall, president of CF, at the general session board meeting, September 28.
Soybeans coming from different regions are varying in size because of the dissimilar range of precipitation experienced from state to state and county to county. The soybeans harvested on the western shore by CF are slightly larger because the area received more rain. Hall stressed that if CF was going to be a world player, that they must be spreading growers from New Jersey to Virginia in order to diversify crop yield and product, so that size variation does not block their product completely from certain international outlets. Hall does not want the problem of size to factor into the already successful sales by CF to Asian markets.
“Different size beans are gonna go to different markets,” said Hall. “This has taught us that we need to hold inventory over.”
Size does matter, but so do other factors, such as protein and fiber levels, which are important when providing soybeans for the tofu market.
Soybeans are not the only things on Hall’s mind. On Sept. 14, members and growers of CF took off to Mount Joy, Pa., to visit Dave Rice, a manufacturer of popcorn who also stores and conditions CF’s popcorn.
Rice taught the group how to correctly harvest the corn, which is especially important when dealing with popcorn because a perforated hull means that there will be no pop to the corn. Popcorn explodes when the pressure builds within the seed. A nick in the hull means no pop. A combine’s typical stripping of an ear can scar the corn. The group soaked cornels in iodine so that it was easy to see the scarring. The lecture also included information about drying techniques.
“It was emphasized that some times we harvest too dry,” said Hall.
A lot of the drying sometimes takes place by forced air without stirrers; the result is uneven drying. When dealing with foodstuffs the product must be consistent. Hall says that ideally they will harvest the corn at 15 to 16 percent and hold it at 14 percent.
Adding value by selling food not feed, CF would like to begin selling products to Europe in addition to Asia, but that’s easier said than done. To sell products to Europe it must be ISO, International Organization for Standardization, certified; unfortunately there is no one who can do this.
“My hope is to get the MDA to write the ISO-65 interim standards,” said Hall.
The MDA already does the organic certification; yet, according to the MDA it will be at least more than a year before the ISO certification process can begin. At present the MDA is seeking funding to begin the process, but without money, ISO certification will have to wait, halting trade with European markets.
“Funds would help us hire someone to write the standards and pay for the first year’s audit,” said Valerie Frances, specialty marketing coordinator of the MDA.
With ISO certification off in the future, CF still has plenty to focus on, including their newly formed Chesapeake Fields Farmer’s Cooperative. The articles of incorporation have been filed and officers have been elected. The newly elected officials are; Freeman Evans, president; Jonathan Quinn, vice-president; Hans Schmidt, secretary; and Evan Miles, treasurer. The cooperative will meet every second Thursday of the month at the Kent County public works complex.
“The co-op will give farmers ownership and savings,” said Elizabeth Morris. “Becoming a cooperative and working together is a lot different for farmers that are used to working alone… it’s [co-op] real promising.”
During the winter the group will try to add more members, especially targeting young farmers, and work on their insurance policy. The group is working on getting an insurance plan that will allow the co-op to do its own trucking to the Port of Baltimore, where it ship its products out on barges. One of the cooperative’s end goals is to help young farmers without capitol become involved in agriculture, according to CFFC.
Always looking for new ways to market their products, Andrew Stein, director of sales and marketing for Benchworks, thought during the meeting that CF’s products would be a nice addition to his company’s holiday baskets. Cecil and Kent County school systems will also start to carry products in the cafeteria.