Entering a new year, herb demands are very high. However,prices do not reflect the demand. DebBenner, owner of Heritage Line Herbs is experiencing fluctuating herb prices. Thecurrent prices are due to the higher cost of labour. Benner’s herbs sell at ahigher price than wholesale chains as her herbs are grown in Canada and labourcosts are higher.
Herb demand has been on a constant rise over the last tenyears due to the younger generation’s interest in cooking. “Younger people like to cook with herbs,”states Benner, “while older generations are not so adventurous with freshherbs, the younger generation loves to experiment with cooking.”
While larger companies may import herbs, Benner has a marketadvantage by growing her own. “My husband and I started our business twelveyears ago when we purchased an existing herb business,” explains Benner, “bythe end of the first year we had increased business volume tremendously.”
Heritage Line Herbs is Certified Organic, which is usefulwhen shipping to larger cities throughout Canada. “We grow for quality not quantity,” declaresBenner, who lowers her prices when she has an abundance of high-end crop. Benner’s herbs are shipped in jars, howeverbiodegradable bags are a thought for the near future as bag packaging wouldreduce shipping cost and are environmentally friendly.
Aside from a few perennials which had to be replanted due tothe 2013 season, herbs experienced a great year in 2014. In using bio pestcontrol, Benner is always on the watch for insects, but handles diseases like downymildew on basil easily by harvesting the plant if any signs of the diseasemanifest.
“It’s been one of our best years,” states Benner, “but weare unwilling to expand due to the lack of skilled labourers available to us.”Heritage Line Herbs relies on nearby teenage neighbours growing up on farms for labour as employees not used to farm work cannot handle the workload
Although fresh herbs are available at an onsite store, onlydried herbs are shipped wholesale. “Are herbs our natural so when dried theyretain their colour,” says Benner, “we don’t grind them down, but instead offerlarger pieces so consumers can retain flavour and have a choice on size oramount.”
For more information please contact:
Deb Benner
Owner
Heritage Line Herbs
Tel: 519-619-2153
heritagelineherbs2014@gmail.com
http://www.heritagelineherbs.com/