Loxahatchee Groves grower sells produce parched in sunshine

By SUSAN SALISBURY Palm Beach Post Staff Writer -Updated: 5:57 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 -Posted: 7:49 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011

LOXAHATCHEE — Jimmy Berke, owner of Leechango Plantation at Turtle Creek sells dried fruit and vegetables.

Jimmy Berke checks on trays of bright red tomatoes drying in a specially equipped 90-degree solar room that includes dehumidifiers and fans. He's pleased to see they're coming along, soon to be on their way to customers who love the sun-dried products his business Leechango Plantation at Turtle Creek produces.

"We are also sun-drying persimmons. That's something you won't see anywhere," said Berke, 64, who has owned and lived on the 25 acres in Loxahatchee Groves since 1977.

"We grow it, sun-dry it, process it and pack it," Berke said. "It's from seed to customer. With agriculture, the only successful way to do it is with direct sales, selling to the end user."

A popular Leechango product is sun-dried mangoes, a "fruit leather" parents often buy for their children's lunch boxes, said Julie Campbell, owner of the Farmer's Daughter, a store that carries the line. "I had people requesting his products before he came in here. Then one day he appeared. The dried fruits and sun-dried tomatoes are really popular. The spreads are gaining popularity. They are excellent," Campbell said.

From Berke's viewpoint, the tomatoes, mangoes and persimmons don't have to be constantly tended to as the more than 100 goats he raised for years did. The goats had to be milked every day, then Berke made cheese from their milk. Chevre - the French name for the creamy, soft white cheese, was the farm's only product.

The dairy was so labor-intensive, Berke found he could not leave town. Even with other people watching over the operation, something seemed to always go wrong. "It was challenging, especially in Florida. Goats do not do well in Florida. It's too humid and there are issues with parasites," Berke said. "Also, the cheese is perishable. You have to keep it cold and get it to market fast. I promised myself I would never get into that situation again." The goat farm was time-consuming, and Berke owned and operated an agricultural fence installation company, Jim Berke Fencing, from 1977 to 2007. As a vegetarian, he did not want to raise goats for their meat. In 2003 he sold the cheese brand to his distributor, Freedom Fresh, then sold the goats and equipment to other dairies. He had an empty building, but didn't know what to do with it. "I wanted to do something original. All of a sudden, this came to me. If I were to dry tomatoes," Berke said. With lots of coaching from local growers Darrin Swank of Swank's Specialty Produce and Walter Ross of Farmhouse Tomatoes, Berke learned how to grow tomatoes and built shadehouses and pipes for watering. "The first couple of years, I experimented with different types of tomatoes. Not every tomato dries the same. The standard tomatoes had too much water," Berke said. Through trial and error and two trips to Spain where he met with an expert who has been drying and selling tomatoes for years, Berke gained more knowledge. He has settled on several varieties of select tomato: the yellow Roman Candle, Austin's Red Pears, the red Amish Pastes and Purple Russians. He converted the dairy building to a processing and drying facility, and in 2008 began selling the first sun-dried products. After being picked by hand and washed, the fruits are cut three-sixteenths of an inch thick using a hand-held tomato slicer, then placed on the drying racks for about a day. Next, they are packaged to be sold at stores and green markets. In 2009 Berke decided to add more products and hired Genna Hoffman, a food product developer, who came up with several type of tapenades, marinades and pesto. Green markets in West Palm Beach and Parkland in Broward County served as the test markets. The products were launched in 2010. "The sun-dried pesto is the best seller. I've rarely had anyone taste it and not buy it," Berke said. The business is still in its infancy, and the worst problem has been freezes that have damaged the fruit trees and tomato plants. In December, 4,000 tomato plants planted in July were wiped out. Now he's started replanting, but has some stock to carry him through. His sons Austin, 19, a college student, and Justin, 20, who's in the military, assist occasionally. But except for part-time help with planting and picking, Berke does everything. The connections and following he established while in the goat cheese business have helped. Sandy Shapiro, a Miami Beach resident who has known Berke for years, contacted Berke when she helped start a buying club a year ago. Now Leechango's products are among the club's offerings. "His passion and commitment to what he grows and what he does is first and foremost. He is very committed and always has been," Shapiro said. She enjoys adding the sun-dried tomatoes to soups, turkey stuffing and pate. "They add depth of flavor," she said. "The naturally sun-dried product you are not going to get many places. He has always been an artisanal grower. It is not that easy to get great food."

FOR SALETurtle Creek Ranch

Loxahatchee Groves, Florida

ATLANTIC WESTERN REALTY CORPORATION3500 FAIRLANE FARMS ROAD, SUITE 9, WELLINGTON, FL 33414

561-832-3400www.atlantic-western.com

The term “Loxahatchee” is Seminole for “Turtle Creek” which has been the registered name of this 25 acre private farm located in northernLoxahatchee Groves since first established by the owner in 1977. The Property is fully developed including a luxury residence, extensiveequestrian improvements, and is being offered together with the seller’s Leechango Plantation business, which grows a variety of fruits andvegetables that are then sundried,packaged and processed in a state-of-the-art, licensed on-site processing facility with a cutting room,several foodpreparation rooms, drying cabinets and more.

Property Summary

♦ Total end of the road privacy in northern Loxahatchee.

♦ 4 parcels comprising 25 contiguous acres, with each tract including either an existingresidence or building pad and utilities for same, offering future potential upside fromdivided parcel sales.

♦ Direct access from paved roads with easy outlet to Royal Palm Beach and close proximityto major schools.

♦ All parcels are fully developed with mature landscaping, 7 wells, and underground power.

♦ A 4,500 sf “Tudor” style primary residence with 3 br/2.5 bath, 2 car garage and separateguest apartment. Offered fully furnished with extensive certified antiques dating to 1920.

♦ 2 barns with numerous paddocks and riding areas, together with a 1,200 sf manufactured2br/2 bath caretaker’s home.

♦ A 3,000 sf fully licensed/approved Food Processing Facility and turn-key food businessunder the dba “Leechango Plantation at Turtle Creek”.The entire business, license andregistered name, together with all inventory and goodwill are included in the offering.

♦ 25,000 sf of shade and seed houses with full irrigation system and plant inventoryexceeding 4,000 specialty tomato plants (multiple variety) together with acres of fruit treeorchard including exotic fruits (including but not limited to persimmon, avocado, citrus,mango, papaya, mulberry, banana, & leachy nut).

Spacious Pastures overlooking one of the stables

Hardwood walking trails throughout

Primary Residence: Situated in a mature live oak hammock, the4,500 sf Tudor Style home is centrally located on the farm to havesweeping views over many of the paddocks and landscapedwaterways.Built in 1993 with solid poured concrete construction,the 3 bedroom/2H bath home includes a formal dining room,living room with wood burning fire place, glass encasedarboretum, eat-in country kitchen with custom cabinetry, mastersuite with private office, and numerous porches. All bedroomsinclude large, cedar lined walk in closets, and external doorwaysfor private entrances. Other features include a walk-in mudroomwith outside shower, and covered walkways from the attachedtwo-car garage,which includes a separate one-bedroom efficiencyapartment with kitchen, bath and screened porch area.The homeis being offered turn-key, fully furnished with numerous certifiedantiques dating back to the 1920’s.

Country Kitchen & Breakfast Nook

Formal Dining Room

Formal Living Room

Covered bridge leading to the Residence One of many well-fenced paddocks

Pasture Pasture

Food Processing Facility & Business:The owner has a well established track record of various farmingventures. His most recent accomplishment is the formation of theLeechango Plantation;an upstart fruit and vegetable business specializingin fresh and sun-dried fruits and vegetables. Current business customersinclude the West Palm Beach & Parkland Green Markets, CommunitySupport Agriculture Buyers, various farm stand buyers and direct fromthe farm business.

Components of the business include:

(i) 25,000 sf of irrigated shade houses with over 4,000 tomato plants;

(ii) acres of irrigated orchards including banana, persimmon, mango,papaya, Leachy nut, mulberry and citrus trees;

(iii) a 3,000 sf “Cuckler”Building which is fully operational and licensedas a Food Processing Facility with processing rooms, ADA bathroom,refrigeration & drying equipment, solar drying room, processing andpackaging rooms;

(iv) separate equipment and repair shop (tools not included);

(v) a 1,200 sf 2 bed/2 bath manufactured home for staff.

The entire Leechango Business with all fixtures, equipment, inventory,licenses, together with the registered name “Leechango Plantation” andassociated goodwill are included in offering.

Property Address: 4348 145th Ave. N., Loxahatchee, FL

Tax ID: 41414308000005070414143080000051604141430800000519041414308000005040

Real Estate Taxes: 2010: $10,400 (est.) reflects AG classification& homestead exemption.

Offering Terms: $1,950,000 CashIn addition to the entire property sale, Seller will consider avariety of alternative sale structures for portions of theproperty, or seller financing subject to acceptable terms,conditions and credit.

Showings by prior appointment only.

The seller’s entire Leechango Plantation business andregistered name is included in the offering

25,000 sf of irrigated shade houses with over4,000 tomato plants

3,000 sf licensed and approved Food ProcessingFacility and Retail Store

Food Processing Facility Fruit Orchard

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Showings by prior appointment only.

ATLANTIC WESTERN REALTY CORPORATION3500 FAIRLANE FARMS ROAD, SUITE 9, WELLINGTON, FL 33414

561-832-3400www.atlantic-western.com

Pastures & Equestrian Area Food Processing Plant

Tree Nursery

Shade House & Nursery

Primary Residencce

Caretaker’s Home