Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to George & Julie Whitinger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

George & Julie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

About four years ago, we purchased land to build our farmhouse and establish Temecula Farms. Although much of the land is wooded, there is also a large tillable field. In order to maintain the field, we knew it needed to be planted or used for grazing livestock. Although we considered livestock, we were not yet living on the farm and had not drilled a well for drinking water, both of which made it challenging to raise livestock. Instead, we researched cut flower farming as it seemed like a niche market with significant growth potential. With the majority of cut flowers in the United States being imported from other countries, we saw an opportunity in the market to sell fresh cut, locally grown flowers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are a husband and wife team with a goal to spread joy with locally grown flowers and offer fresh cut flowers of exceptional quality and maximum vase life. We offer fresh cut flower subscriptions, bouquet sales at our roadside stand, florals for events, as well as on-the-farm photography sessions. In addition to our floral offerings, we also offer pasture-raised eggs. We are not only passionate about making our flowers and humanely raised animals assessable to our community but also sharing our farming journey with everyone, as we believe it is important for consumers to understand where agricultural products are sourced.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

We live in a small community so referrals are key for growing our business! We are grateful that our existing customers share their love for products with their family and friends.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

This is our fourth season in business and each season we try to offer customers more opportunities to experience Temecula Farms and our products. In addition to our fresh cut flower product offerings, we offer on-the-farm photography sessions. The photography sessions are extra special, because families and friends have the opportunity to come to the farm and capture memories in the gardens. It is so fulfilling to see the joy people experience while walking through rows of colorful zinnias, catching grasshoppers, admiring butterflies, and connecting with nature during their sessions.
A new revenue stream for this year is farm-fresh, pasture-raised eggs. Over the winter, we built a chicken coop on wheels and now have a flock of laying hens. With a mobile coop, we move the hens to fresh grass so they can forage and enjoy the sunshine. Our Great Pyrenees, Blue, is a livestock guidance dog and protects the flock from predators. The eggs have been great for our business as many customers come for fresh-cut flowers and leave with flowers and eggs!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.temecula-farms.com
• Instagram: @temeculafarms
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/temeculafarmsmi/
• Other: Email:
  [email protected]

Image Credits

Koiya Kensicki Photography