Our company develops scalable local food systems (small food chains) managed by local farmers and gardeners. Food chain managers and landowners will contract with local marketing professionals and processing companies. New income from improved commodities contracts, and in time from farmer-owned retail food brands will help smaller producers stay in business.
Commercial-Scale Production Units
The first step is to secure land for commercial-scale farms and gardens. To reduce production costs and increase incomes for conventional and specialty commodities, we are inviting experienced landowners to form landowner-controlled “production units.”
Production units are groups of contiguous and nearby managed together as if they were a single diversified farm. The goal is to produce a mix of crops and livestock best suited to commodity and retail food markets. The farm owners will serve as directors for their local units. These units offer a simple legal structure that allows smaller landowners to scale up – without buying or selling land.
My business partners and associates will help identify qualified operators and assist production unit boards in negotiating leases with an experienced operator. Leases will run from five to seven years. Operators will be encouraged to negotiate purchase options with landowners who may wish to sell in the future. We will prepare crop and livestock marketing, production, and processing plans for each unit. These plans will be discussed, amended, and approved by unit managers and their boards. Multiple units will be encouraged to work together to match local production with market conditions.
My business partners and associates will help identify qualified operators and assist production unit boards in negotiating leases with an experienced operator. Leases will run from five to seven years. Operators will be encouraged to negotiate purchase options with landowners who may wish to sell in the future. We will prepare crop and livestock marketing, production, and processing plans for each unit. These plans will be discussed, amended, and approved by unit managers and their boards. Multiple units will be encouraged to work together to match local production with market conditions.
Market Research
Consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it is raised and processed. Local farmer-owned brands with farm-to-fork traceability represent real profit opportunities for local landowners, growers, processors, and investors.
Planning for consumer product and market research is underway. This research will identify high-value foods that can be produced, processed, and distributed in efficient farm-to-fork food chains. Farmer-owned retail food brands will feature foods from regenerative and organic farms that pay living wages to farmhands and food workers.
Farm-to-fork means ready for chefs, home cooks, or the table. Regenerative and organic mean cleaner soils and water and more wildlife resources. Most importantly, successful farmer-owned brands will keep millions of dollars in our regional economy. I estimate that consumers in a seven-county area that includes Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Lincoln spend about $8 billion every year on imported (non-local) foods while area farmers make less than $3 billion.
Experience
Our company is uniquely qualified to organize sustainable local and regional food systems. As shown on page 5, I have a lifetime of experience in organic agriculture with over 40 years in planning and marketing. My business partners are trained professionals with years of direct experience in crop and livestock production, marketing, banking, and farm law with an emphasis on farmland succession within families and communities.
Page 2 explains why we need farmer-owned retail food brands. Pages 3 and 4 are on planning and marketing issues.
I would appreciate an opportunity to explain our business model and services.
Thank you.
Jim Steffen, President
Massena Corporation
402-317-2639
jim@massenafarms.com
Posted: 10-21-2026