GARLIC FARMING BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Heritage Bulb Co. draws its name from heirloom garlic varieties passed down across generations; the name signals provenance and flavor depth. We operate in the U.S. specialty agriculture sector, growing premium and heirloom garlic on a mix of owned and leased land, scaling from 5 to 27 hectares. Our core products are fresh bulbs, garlic scapes, and high-value processed items—black garlic and artisanal powder—each produced with traceable, data-driven precision to guarantee consistent flavor and quality. One-liner: premium, traceable heirloom garlic for chefs and discerning consumers.

We sell primarily to professional chefs, gourmet retailers, and health-conscious consumers through direct wholesale, CSA boxes, and online retail; key activities include precision planting, organic soil management, controlled fermentation for black garlic, and small-batch milling for powder. What sets us apart is farm-to-fork traceability, flavor profiling by batch, and a sustainability-first production model that supports higher margins. Short-term goal: stabilize supply and reach regional distribution in 18 months. Long-term goal: national specialty distribution and a branded processing line within five years. One-liner: scale high-margin specialty garlic with rigorous traceability and chef-grade flavor.

Problem

The U.S. culinary market is flooded with generic, mass‑produced garlic that often lacks robust flavor, reliable shelf life, and clear origin information. Professional chefs and discerning home cooks routinely receive bulbs with diminished allium compounds, unpredictable menu performance, and limited traceability, while grocery channels remain dominated by imported, chemically treated bulbs.

Result: high-end restaurants face inconsistent access to heirloom varieties, consumers lack flavorful local options, and the market lacks a dependable, traceable supply of specialty garlic—creating a clear need for a scalable, quality-focused domestic producer.

Solution

The U.S. culinary market lacks fresh, flavorful, traceable garlic; mass-produced and imported bulbs dominate, leaving chefs without consistent supplies of heirloom hardneck varieties and regional, sustainably grown options. This gap drives demand for locally produced, higher-allium garlic with reliable traceability and longer freshness.

We supply traceable, high-allium garlic—fresh hardneck and softneck varieties plus value-added black garlic and garlic powder—delivered direct to chefs, distributors, and retailers. We use data-driven cultivation to boost allium content, guarantee full traceability per kilogram, and plan scalable production from 5 hectares in 2026 to 27 hectares by 2035.

Mission Statement

We elevate the U.S. culinary experience by producing the freshest, most flavorful, and sustainably grown heirloom garlic for chefs and retailers who value quality and provenance.

Through transparent, data-driven cultivation and innovative curing and value-added processing, we deliver a premium ingredient that supports local food systems and sparks culinary creativity.

We grow with integrity, set higher specialty-allium standards, and partner with customers to ensure consistent flavor, traceability, and environmental stewardship.

Key Success Factors

Core factors that will drive operational performance, market position, and profitability.

• Maintain 5% yield loss through advanced ag management and data-driven hectare monitoring.
• Proprietary heirloom seed stock secured and expanded to offer non-replicable varieties.
• Breakeven by August 2026 via aggressive sales to high-end restaurants and farmers' markets.
• Scale from 5 to 27 hectares while keeping 20% owned land for financial stability.
• Command premium pricing with a strong brand identity (target price $35.00 per kg for black garlic).

Financial Summary

Financial highlights from the model: launch in 2026 with initial EBITDA loss, profitability by 2028, and ten-year EBITDA reaching $1,199,000 in 2035.

Financial requirements: total initial CAPEX $390,000; minimum cash required $218,000 (Jul-29); payback 83 months; return on equity 3.73.

Overall outlook: modest early losses, breakeven within the first year, and steady EBITDA growth to $1.199M by 2035.

Funding Requirements

Raise at least $608,000 to cover $390,000 initial CAPEX, reach breakeven in August 2026 while holding a $218,000 minimum cash reserve; initial EBITDA loss is $101,000, with profitability by 2028.