Linda K. Williams

What is Fall Harvest Urban Farms LLC?

Fall Harvest Urban Farms originated as a family business. Our main product is Mrs. Pruitt’s Cha Cha Salsa, which is a family recipe dating back to the early 1860s in South Carolina. Cha Cha or chow chow as it’s known in the South has been enjoyed in the Southern States for over 100 years and means “nothing ever wasted.” The recipe was originally developed from the need to preserve home grown vegetables by canning in late summer and early fall during the harvest.

We have been developing the product since 2010 in partnership with the MSU product center and we launched our youth programming component in March 2014. Our social mission is to improve the unemployment rate for African American males between the ages of 16 to 24 by teaching about urban farming to become self-sufficient.

What was your experience in Build?

Build Social was such a rich experience and allowed me to zero in on how to develop my business plan. It also helped me get more focused in terms of growing my social mission and helping youth. I learned you can never completely finish your business plan – our business is evolving every day!

 

“[Build Social] also helped me get more focused in terms of growing my social mission and helping youth. I learned you can never completely finish your business plan – our business is evolving every day!”

 

What are your recent developments?

Through Build I developed many connections and was able to sell my product at various markets and pop-ups in the city. I sold at Eastern Market Tuesdays through the summer and fall. I also attended the Make it in Michigan fair in Lansing, which was a huge gathering of over 300 Michigan vendors. I am currently selling at DeVries in Eastern Market and Holiday Market in Royal Oak, and I am in the process of applying to sell at Whole Foods in Detroit.

What is your long-term vision?

I hope to continue expanding and am interested in selling and distributing at stores all over the country, including Whole Foods, Meijer and Kroger.