Page 11 of Tempting Promises
“Absolutely. We’ve increased our production schedule along with expanding our farm to ensure we can continue to grow with contracts like this,” I assure him.
This is the big account I need. It’ll get me out of debt and fund various improvements that need to be made. Knight Food Distributionis the number one supplier for schools, and what do kids drink at lunch? Milk.
I caught wind about a year ago that their current distributor was having quality issues. I found out that Carson Knight, who co-owns and runs the company since his father is getting ready to retire, has hired Grady a few times for courier jobs.
My brother is brilliant and was able to get us a meeting.
However, we’re a fraction of the size as their last supplier.
Micah clears his throat. “We also go through rigorous third-party testing to make sure we can catch and correct any issues. Though, they have yet to find anything, so we’re clearly doing something right.”
I nod. “Micah helps oversee the operations, and neither of us have any doubt that we’ll be able to meet your needs.”
“Well, all of this sounds good. I’d like to come out to the farm with my son and see the facilities. Carson likes the idea of having several smaller farms producing so we can add or drop without a shortage.”
“There won’t be issues from us,” I say firmly, needing to reaffirm my confidence and commitment.
He steeples his fingers and bows his head. “Then we’ll make arrangements to come out there for a day or two. We have another dairy farmer in Sugarloaf we plan to visit as well. My office will be in touch.”
The three of us stand, shake hands, and Micah and I walk out as my mind reels. Who else could he be meeting in Sugarloaf? The other farms are smaller than us, and already have contracts that they’re barely meeting.
When we exit the building and are standing on the busy New York sidewalk, I turn to Micah. “Who?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. The Mitchell’s farm is way too small to take on the volume we will. The Arrowoods aren’t even farming, really. They have a few cows probably for a tax break. The only other farm that might want to grow is . . .”
“Charlotte,” I say her name as a curse. That damn woman isgoing to drive me to drink. How the hell she found out about this group is beyond me. She doesn’t have the connections I did with Grady. Beyond that, she can’t possibly produce that much milk. Not what this group wants to see, at least.
“She’s ambitious, I gotta give her that,” Micah says with admiration.
“She’s an idiot. She can’t do it.”
He tilts his head. “I wouldn’t put anything past her. She’s driven, smart, and she could do a lot if she was able to expand. It’s a good thing you got the land she wanted. If she’d gotten it, it would be her getting this contract before we even walked in.”
The sad part is he’s right. Charlotte isn’t stupid, not by any means. When she took her farm organic, it opened a few doors that I can’t get entrance into. She’s one of only two in our county that actually got the certification, which means she can sell at a much higher price point.
Even though my farm operates almost the same way.
“They would want to bring organic milk in? That seems like a pretty high price to pay when most schools can’t afford it,” I say as we’re walking back toward the truck.
Micah pulls off his tie and shoves it into his pocket. “We have no idea. With the rise of consumers going to purely organic, it could be her. Parents are way more concerned than when we were young, that’s for damn sure. I don’t see it being affordable, but who the hell knows?”
“Maybe, but cost matters too. I can’t imagine any company being willing to pay a higher price just to get the stamp when they can get the same product from us for a fraction of the cost.”
“Yeah, but that stamp also means they can charge more to the consumer.”
He’s right. I sigh. “Well, we can’t worry about the other farms vying for it. We just have to keep our heads down and the plan in place. The more we’re able to grow this year, the better the chances that we’ll be able to pull off what we just promised.”
Micah gives me a flat smile. “We just have to wait until they’re born.”
“And get the next group pregnant.”
“All of what we planned out is working, Rowan. We just have to be patient.”
Micah, for all his faults, is actually brilliant. The two of us realized there were opportunities that most farmers were missing out on and planned how to fill that gap. However, if Charlotte Sullivan sees the same thing, I might just lose out and then I’ll really be fucked.
“I’ve never been very good at being patient.”
He laughs. “Me either. Hey, are you going on the mountain trip in New Hampshire?”
