Two case studies show how it’s done

This story is about two visionary business owners in two very different natural resource industries.

They process significantly different commodities at opposite ends of Farm Credit’s Northeast territory. One enterprise — an apple packing and shipping facility — sits on the shore of Lake Ontario in western New York. The other — a sawmill — operates on the southern edge of Maine’s North Woods, not far from Bangor.

As different as they are, both businesses have made substantial investments in technology, and not just for the sake of having the “latest and greatest.” They incorporate advanced technology only when it demonstrates a positive impact on quality, efficiency and profit margins.

Our two entrepreneurs are:

• Steve Riessen, president of Sun Orchard Fruit Company, in Burt, N.Y., who recently added a fully automated pre-size line to his apple-packaging facility

• Luke Brochu, president of Pleasant River Lumber, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, who is utilizing sophisticated optimizing systems in his lumber operation

Let’s take a look at how these savvy individuals are using technological innovation to maintain healthy bottom lines in the face of fierce competition and soaring expenses.

Case 1 - Steve Riessen, Sun Orchard, Click here

Case 2 - Luke Brochu, Pleasant River Lumber Click here

Is NEW TECHNOLOGY in your future?  Click here

Main article  Click here

This article first appeared in the Summer 2005 issue of Financial Partner magazine. You can receive this FREE publication by clicking here.

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