Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm
Batch Dryer
Grant Award: $8,000
Michael is building a forced air “batch” dryer for herbs. Currently, he uses a shipping container with wire shelving powered by a heater and dehumidifier. The new building and herb dryer will enable Mike to scale up his production of dried herbs. The metal building will enable him to move all of his food-grade tools to the new location, which will help him obtain GAP certification in the future.
This process works well but it does not accommodate large harvests of leaf crops, some of which are his best sellers. The batch dryer will allow him to dry herbs much faster and in greater quantities, allowing him to expand his offerings to wholesale clients and satisfy retail customers by keeping a variety of herbs in stock in their online store.
This project will allow Kestrel Herb Farm to quintuple its production of dried herb products and expand its customer base. The economy of scale will make the business more profitable and will allow them to make future investments in labor-saving equipment. Wholesale customers include Asheville Tea Co. and Red Moon Herbs.
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