Today we’d like to introduce you to Glen Lehne.
Glen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We are a fourth generation Farm that has been selling direct to the public fruits and vegetables since 1974. We offer our produce at several different locations in and around Roseburg Oregon—directly at the farm where People can come out and pick their fruits and vegetables. The UPick season usually runs from the middle of July to the middle of October each year. We attend three regional farmers markets each year with one of them the Umpqua Valley farmers market in Roseburg going year-round the other two Coos Bay and Bandon farmers markets run from May till October. And since June 2024, we have opened up our Farm Stand on Melrose Road in Roseburg that provides year round access to our Produce as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our most significant challenge is being humble understanding that truly we’re not in control ultimately of the success of a crop mother nature has a vote.
Some of the bigger challenges have been educating the customer base about the seasonality of Produce and the true cost of raising nourishing, fruits and vegetables that is sold directly to the public.
Scaling and dealing with access to capital has always been a challenge making sure we don’t overleveraged ourselves under a mountain of debt
becoming experts on the interpersonal relationships with multiple employees was a challenge at first because as I had just finished a 20 year career in the military.
Learning how to grow produce year-round had its own set of challenges. Finding out the varieties that work and don’t was important along with the willingness to risk and to research in order to determine what will work and what will not
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lehne Farms?
As previously mentioned, Lehne Farms is a fourth generation Farm that has been growing fruit, fruits and vegetables for sale directly to the Public since 1974.
We grow and sell produce year-round. We are known for our sweet corn called candy store corn.
Our Farm Stand, in addition to selling our produce along with other regional favorites, has a “from scratch” kitchen that uses fresh produce from our farm and whole ingredients that they use to make the various deli items with and our Bakery prepares and bakes daily our pastry, cookies and sweet treats and cakes that are for sale
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
While the Farm is currently focused on fresh fruits and vegetables. The first generation farmers Myron and Helen Lehne purchased the initial properties in 1940. The Farm started out focused on walnuts and propagating Nursery and bedding plants and then in 1974 it transitioned into the fruit and vegetable farm that is known today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelehnefarms.com
- Instagram: thefarmstand_lehnefarms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063536054929
