Saturday, December 3, 2022 | Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
SOUTH S OUTH
Growing with the flow
Saturday, December ecember 3, 2022
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 1, Edition 13
PHOTOS BY TAYLOR JERDE
Andrew Serio is the owner of Serio Farms near Preston. ston. He has been gardening rdening all hiss life.
Serio Farms Fa sprouts tomatoes fresh to year ro round
BY TAYLOR JERDE | STAFF W WRITER T R
PRESTON – PREST Andrew Serio Ser had been garden gardening all his life as a hobby. In 2014, he decided d to combine hhis love of gardening and a his interest in hydro hydroponics to forge a new career. Serio worked several jobs and sold everything ever he had, including includin his cattle, to invest in his venture. After careful care research, he launch launched his business with 48 tomato plants, 300 lettuce plants and his own self-de self-designed hydroponic system system. To d a y, his business, Serio Farms, has grown to serve not only the Rochester Farmer’s Market, but also the Chatfield Farmer’s Market. Additionally, he provides fresh products to People’s Food Coop, Parkway Grocery Store, the Lanesboro Sales Barn, and restaurants like Stellar 81 Taphouse, Juniper, Blue Duck and Four Daughters. In addition to tomatoes and lettuce, the farm also supplies rosemary, mint and basil. “I enjoy
A ripe tomato hangs on a vine at Serio Farms Nov. 16 near Preston. The farm has 350 tomato plants with plans to grow more.
ST R
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Watch for the next edition of Country Acres South on December 17, 2022
A row of tomatoes grows on Serio Farms. The Serios use hydroponics to grow tomatoes and lettuce.
making people happy with fresh products,” Serio said. Because hydroponic farming uses water instead of soil to grow the plants, Serio can provide fresh produce to his customers year-round. He puts vitamins, minerals, and any other necessary products the plant specifically needs to grow, directly into the water. He said it actually uses 90% less water than growing plants conventionally. Demand has grown
so much that Serio now harvests from 350 tomato plants and 2,500 lettuce plants. He has two greenhouses and is planning to put up two more in the next five years. When he first began his business, the bank wouldn’t loan him the money to grow vegetables or invest in a necessary second greenhouse to ramp up his hobby into something profitable.
Serio page 2
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6
The aeril hunter’s dance St. Charles
5
Veiseth Farm Family of the Year Zumbrota
9
Aging the rind Altura