Organic Fresh Experience (OFE)
Blueberry Ranch LLC
Acquisition & Expansion Business Plan
Executive Summary
Organic Fresh Experience (OFE), formerly Blueberry Ranch LLC (BBR), is a year-round agritourism destination that combines sustainable agriculture with memorable customer experiences. Unlike traditional single-crop, seasonal farms, OFE integrates advanced growing methods (e.g., High Tunnels, Grow Bags, and Picking Patches) to provide fresh, healthy, organically grown fruits and vegetables while offering customers interactive, educational, culinary, and hospitality experiences.
Blueberry Ranch LLC presents a rare opportunity to acquire a premier organic agricultural property with significant untapped upside. The business is offered at an asking price of $7.5 million, based primarily on underlying land and infrastructure value rather than current earnings performance.
While the farm is profitable today, its current operations intentionally underutilize the property’s full potential. A buyer should anticipate investing an additional $5–$10 million to fully realize the vision of transforming the farm into a diversified regional destination centered on agriculture, experiences, retail, hospitality, and community engagement.
With strategic investment and expansion, projected annual gross revenues are estimated at $7–$10 million by Year 5.
*Additionally, BBR is offering a one-time $50,000 referral reward to any individual who successfully identifies the next owner.
Business Concept & Differentiation
Core Philosophy
OFE is built around three foundational principles:
Experience over production: Customers do not simply buy produce. They participate in growing, harvesting, dining, learning, and celebrating.
Healthy living focus: All offerings emphasize organic, fresh, and locally sourced products.
Community engagement: Festivals, memberships, workshops, and recurring events create a loyal customer “tribe.”
Vision: Beyond Blueberries
BBR currently operates the largest certified organic blueberry farm in the Midwest, with more than 30 years of certified organic production and strong direct-to-consumer brand recognition.
However, growth through blueberries alone is inherently limited. The true opportunity lies in expanding beyond blueberries into a fully diversified agritourism and experiential enterprise integrating:
Organic agriculture
Hospitality
Education
Retail
Culinary experiences
Community events
Lodging and tourism
This concept has not yet been fully realized at scale within the region, creating a significant first-mover advantage.
Key Agricultural Innovations
A. High Tunnels
Large unheated greenhouse structures extend the growing season, protect crops from weather extremes, and improve production consistency while maintaining organic growing standards.
Benefits include:
Longer harvest windows
Improved crop reliability
Better weather protection
Expanded crop diversity
B. Grow Bags
Grow Bags create customized soil environments tailored to specific crops, improving plant health and enabling flexible crop rotation.
Advantages include:
Higher-density planting
Better disease management
Improved production quality
Faster crop transitions
C. Picking Patch
The Picking Patch is a revolutionary u-pick concept where Grow Bag plants are moved under High Tunnels with shade cloth protection, creating a comfortable customer experience regardless of weather conditions.
This system enables:
Rain- and heat-protected picking
Improved accessibility
Multiple fruit varieties simultaneously
Expansion into specialty and exotic crops
Current Operations & Competitive Strengths
30+ years of certified organic production
Strong regional brand recognition
Established customer loyalty
Direct-to-consumer sales infrastructure
Debt-free operations
Experienced management team
Existing H2A labor housing
Flexible owner workload structure
Unlike traditional farms that operate as “one-trick ponies,” OFE’s diversified model maximizes infrastructure utilization and significantly reduces seasonal revenue risk.
Products & Revenue Streams
1. Fruit & Produce
Bush Fruit
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blackberries
Currants
Gooseberries
Cranberries
Tree Fruit
Apples
Peaches
Pears
Cherries
Plums
Apricots
Vegetables
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Squash
Beans
Specialty Crops
Figs
Botanicals
Wine grapes
Edible flowers
Lavender
Sunflowers
2. Country Store & Farm Market
The OFE farm market is envisioned as a healthy local convenience destination operating year-round.
Offerings would include:
Fresh organic produce
Frozen and fresh pies
Jams and jellies
Fresh bakery products
Prepared meals
Coffee and grab-and-go foods
Pasture-raised meats
Eggs and dairy products
Local partner products on consignment
Branded merchandise and gift items
A heated farm market would support 12-month operations.
3. Winery & Vineyard
Future vineyard and winery operations would feature:
Organic low-sulfite wines
Farm-to-table tasting experiences
Event pairings and culinary programs
Potential investor partnership opportunities
4. Commercial Kitchen & Culinary Experiences
A commercial kitchen would support:
Bakery operations
Catering services
Event food production
Farm-to-table brunches and dinners
High-margin value-added products
5. Agritourism & Event Experiences
Experiential offerings may include:
Weddings
Corporate retreats
Graduation parties
Family reunions
Harvest festivals
Earth Day celebrations
Christmas markets
Easter and summer events
Cooking workshops
Flower arranging classes
Educational demonstrations
The property is designed to become a year-round community gathering destination.
6. Memberships & Visitor Programs
Membership models may include:
Day Passes
Family Passes
Patron Memberships
Benefits may include:
Early produce access
Event discounts
Rental priority
Exclusive experiences
Dynamic attendance management ensures high-quality customer experience while avoiding overcrowding.
7. Lodging & Hospitality
Hospitality opportunities include:
Airbnb stays
Immersive farm lodging experiences
Future glamping village near ponds
Eco-tourism accommodation
Assets & Infrastructure
Primary Property – Buckeye Road (91 Acres)
Existing infrastructure includes:
2,880 sq ft Sales Building
2,400 sq ft Packaging Facility
3,500 sq ft Primary Residence
800 sq ft Caretaker Home
1,680 sq ft Certified Labor House (H2A compliant)
These assets provide a turnkey operational foundation for future expansion.
Secondary Property – Elder Road (15 Acres)
1,700 sq ft Caretaker Residence
These assets provide a turnkey operational foundation for future expansion.
Market Opportunity & Location Advantage
OFE benefits from exceptional regional positioning.
Strategic Location Advantages
84,000+ households within a 7-mile radius
Approximately 6.8 miles from the University of Notre Dame
Near major retail corridors (Main Street and Grape Road)
Easy access via Indiana Toll Road Exit 83
Proximity to schools, sports complexes, and growing residential neighborhoods
Target Markets
Local Families
Especially young families seeking healthy organic food and outdoor experiences.
Notre Dame Visitors & Tourists
Visitors seeking unique local attractions, lodging, and dining experiences.
Educational Groups
School field trips, homeschool organizations, and agricultural education programs.
Ethnic & Specialty Markets
Communities attracted to specialty crops such as currants and gooseberries.
Event & Hospitality Customers
Wedding, retreat, and corporate event clientele.
Education & Community Engagement
Educational programming opportunities include:
School field trips
Summer camps
Agricultural workshops
Homeschool programming
Culinary classes
Sustainability education
The long-term vision positions OFE as both an agricultural and educational community resource.
Marketing & Customer Base
Existing audience infrastructure includes:
10,300+ email subscribers
13,000+ Facebook followers
Growing Instagram presence
Strong regional brand awareness
This existing customer base provides immediate scalability for expanded offerings.
Ownership & Leadership
John E. Nelson – Owner & Managing Partner
John Nelson is a pioneer in Midwest organic agriculture with nearly five decades of leadership experience.
Highlights include:
Organic blueberry farming since 1991
Longstanding Ecocert USA certification
Leadership within industry organizations
Regional innovation in organic production
Ownership remains open to partnering or co-investing with the right buyer to ensure long-term success and preservation of the property’s mission.
Financial Strategy & Growth Plan
Investment Requirements
An estimated $5–$10 million in additional capital investment would support:
Infrastructure modernization
Agritourism development
Event center construction
Hospitality expansion
Controlled agriculture systems
Brand and marketing growth
Customer experience enhancements
Revenue Diversification Strategy
Future revenue streams include:
Produce sales
Retail operations
Events and rentals
Food and beverage services
Educational programming
Membership programs
Lodging and hospitality
Winery operations
This diversified model significantly reduces reliance on short seasonal harvest windows.
Financial Projections
Current State
Profitable but under-leveraged
Heavy concentration of seasonal revenue
Future State
Expanded 9+ month operating season
Diversified year-round income streams
Higher-margin experiential revenue
Projected Timeline
Years 1-2: Infrastructure and brand expansion
Years 3-4: Revenue acceleration
Year 5: Projected gross revenue of $7–$10 million annually
Ownership Philosophy
Ownership has consistently prioritized preservation of the land’s agricultural integrity.
Past decisions include declining:
Residential development opportunities
Energy-sector acquisition proposals
The ideal buyer aligns with the philosophy: “Keeping it what it is—but significantly better.”
Risk Considerations
Potential investors should recognize:
Current earnings do not independently justify acquisition pricing.
Significant capital investment is required.
Operational scaling introduces execution risk.
Success depends on strong leadership and strategic vision.
However, these risks are balanced by substantial infrastructure, location, brand equity, and long-term expansion potential.
Conclusion
Organic Fresh Experience / Blueberry Ranch LLC represents a rare combination of:
Premium real estate
Established organic credibility
Loyal customer base
Scalable agritourism infrastructure
Strong regional location
Significant untapped growth potential
By combining sustainable agriculture with hospitality, entertainment, retail, education, and customer experiences, OFE is positioned to become a premier Midwest destination business.
For the right buyer or investment partner, this opportunity offers far more than a farm acquisition. It offers the ability to build a profitable, mission-driven lifestyle enterprise with long-term regional impact.
For more information and for price, please send your request to objbbr@gmail.com
Blueberry Season
The blueberry season typically starts the first week of July and runs through mid-August. Be sure to sign up for our email list and follow us on Facebook for the latest news!
Blueberry Benefits
Organic blueberries... Pick Often, Buy in Quantity, Eat More! You deserve it.
Our local organic blueberries are packed with: ✓phytonutrients ✓antioxidants ✓vitamins C & K ✓vitamin B6 ✓manganese ✓fiber ✓potassium ✓folate. Read more.
