Financing Helps a Family's Dream Come True

Q&A with Anissa Cantey, Windsor Valley Farm Market

BY KENETHA HANSEN, EDFP | DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & FINANCING

The farm of Alex and Anissa Cantey, located in Windsor Township, includes a produce stand, several barn structures, and a greenhouse, as well as a home for themselves and their two children. On their 39.2 acre farm, the Canteys grow vegetable and tobacco crops, and sell produce and other local products from its farm stand, Windsor Valley Farm Market.

In April 2020, the Canteys utilized a $325,000 Next Generation Farmer Loan (NGFL), via the York County Industrial Development Authority (YCIDA) and Fulton Bank, to fund a portion of the acquisition of their farm. The NGFL is a federally authorized program accessed via the YCIDA for lenders to make lower than conventionally priced loans to federally qualifying farmers.

Q: What drove your decision to farm?

A: Alex has had a passion for agriculture since high school, where he was highly involved in his Future Farmers of America chapter. After graduation, he pursued a degree at Penn State in Horticulture with a minor in Agronomy. During these years, Alex was also building his produce business with a friend, renting ground and caring for crops during the summer and weekends. Eventually, that lead to us renting a farm in Lancaster for two years, but the ultimate goal was to buy our own piece of property, so when this one became available with the retail farm market already in place, we saw it as the perfect opportunity.

Q: How have you seen the agriculture industry change in the past few years? What do you see the future of it being like?

A: Retail Markets like ours have the special privilege of getting to interact directly with the consumer and answer questions about where their food comes from. When in season in Pennsylvania, almost all of our produce in our market is grown right here on our farm, with the exception of tree fruits, blueberries, and a few smaller things. We also offer locally sourced seasonal plants, freezer beef, milk, eggs, baked goods and canned goods. I think the interest in local products and information about how they’re produced is becoming very important to consumers, and we hope in the future it includes more opportunities for customer involvement and education.

Q: Is there anything you wish York Countians knew about your farm operation, or agriculture in general?

A: 97% of farms in Pennsylvania are family owned! (www.agriculture.pa.gov) Supporting a local farmer supports a family’s dream to do what they love. There are a lot of stresses and unknowns in farming since many things are out of our control, especially the weather, but we have a strong faith in God’s plan for our lives! We have been incredibly blessed to be able to raise our children on this farm, and we're thankful for the YCEA’s part in it to help ease some of those burdens.

Q: What are some future plans/goals for your farm and business?

A: We would like to add more high tunnel/greenhouse structures to extend our growing seasons, and offer more varieties of our own produce. Building up our soil health is also very important to us, especially since our crops have high nutrient needs. We are currently trying to implement a rest period into our crop rotations, where ground will be planted in a nutrient-dense cover crop for the growing season, the vegetation dies off over winter, and all that organic matter is added to the soil.

Q: How did the Next Generation Farmer Loan, accessed via the YCIDA, help you?

A: The Next Generation Farmer Loan (NGFL) helped ease some of the financial burden of buying a farm in 2020 as first-generation farmers by offering a lower interest rate program.

Q: Seeing as you acquired your farm in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, what challenges or opportunities did that pose for you?

A: The pandemic posed a challenge in the real estate process, since in the spring of 2020 when we were in the process of our farm purchase, many businesses were closed. Although stressful, God was faithful in getting us through it! Opening a retail farm market in May of 2020 was certainly a learning experience, and we made mistakes. But our customers were very understanding as we navigated our new business. All in all, I think the pandemic has increased people’s desires for locally sourced products, and made us cherish human interaction much more.

Q: Why is agriculture such a vital industry to York County?

A: Agriculture is a vital industry to any community! Farmers produce so many useful and necessary products for consumers, most importantly in our case, fruits and vegetables to sustain life. And the money spent to support farmers and help them grow creates a chain reaction of business in the community. We use local companies for our repairs, plants, seeds, nutrients, insurance and more. Agriculture in York County also provides jobs for many, and often an opportunity for entry level employment for young adults. Alex’s first job was on a produce and tobacco farm starting at 12 until college, and I worked on a tobacco farm starting at 14 until college!

Windsor Valley Farm Market, 510 Windsor Rd., York, PA 17402

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