Amy grows fruits, vegetables and cut flowers on her farm in Charles City.
By Laura Fisher, FSA Farm Loan Specialist
Amy Hicks, owner and operator of Amy’s Garden in Charles City, Virginia, developed a passion for playing in the dirt at an early age. She grew up eating a variety of vegetables fresh from her grandparent’s garden and watching her grandmother can and preserve garden crops – memories that would impact her later in life.
Amy and her husband, George Ferguson, had a backyard garden at their home in Richmond until they moved to the countryside in 1998 where they began their small farm operation. The couple now grow a large variety of USDA Certified Organic vegetables and small fruits, along with cut flowers, on their farm.
Expanding the Operation
Microloans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) helped Amy grow her garden operation. Microloans provide flexible access to credit for small, beginning and niche agricultural operations.
“FSA has made it possible for us to expand the business by improving infrastructure,” Amy said. “We are truly grateful for the help FSA offered, with the low interest rates and generous terms.”
USDA’s farm loan programs offer direct and guaranteed loans to farmers and ranchers to promote, build and sustain family farms for a thriving agricultural economy. Prior to the 2018 Farm Bill, microloans were limited to a combined $50,000. Producers can now receive both a $50,000 farm ownership microloan and a $50,000 operating microloan.
Amy and George worked with their local farm loan team to get financing to construct a packing shed for storing and processing fresh produce.
As production continued to increase, Amy saw the need for an additional packing and processing space and worked with FSA again to obtain funding for the project.
“FSA understands the variability of farm income and works with producers to help them survive and thrive,” she said.
Microloans from FSA helped Amy grow her garden operation.
Feeding the Community
Their fruits and vegetables are marketed directly to consumers at farmer’s markets in Richmond and Williamsburg. They also provide access to their farm-fresh products through their 100-member Community Supported Agriculture service.
“Our plans are simply to get better at what we are doing,” said Amy. “Not necessarily grow larger, but to become more efficient, have less waste and continue to provide good, clean, nutrient-dense organic produce to those in our community.”
More Information
USDA offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, loan and conservation programs to help agricultural producers across the country weather ups and downs in the market and recover from natural disasters as well as invest in improvements to their operations. Learn about additional programs.
For more information on FSA farm loans, visit www.fsa.usda.gov or contact your local USDA service center.
