At left, José Guzman is one of the two owners of Yooper Country Farms in Eben Junction. José was born on a small farm in El Salvador where his family raised an assortment of livestock and grew a variety of fruits and vegetables. Today, José and his wife Mac grow a variety of vegetables, have a small flock of laying hens and raise both meat chickens and rabbits. (Photos courtesy of José Guzman)

Editor’s note: This story is Part 1 of a four-part series highlighting area farms for Community Supported Agriculture Week.

By DREYMA BERONJA

Journal Staff Writer

EBEN JUNCTION — A 20-acre market farm operated by a husband and wife team in Eben Junction is celebrating its third year in operation.

With one acre of vegetables, a half-acre orchard and 200 free-range laying chickens and ducks, there is something for everyone at Yooper Country Farms.

José and Mac Guzman first met while working on the Las Vegas Strip. While Mac was working the early shift at a coffee shop, José was working nights and suddenly started drinking lots of coffee according to Yooper Country Farms website.

Despite speaking different languages and coming from different backgrounds, José and Mac planned a first date and the rest was history. They sold their Las Vegas home in 2020 and moved to Maui, working jobs at an organic greenhouse were they learned about farming and dreamed of their own farm where they would grow vanilla and mangos.

Six months after moving and during the COVID-19 pandemic, they made the move back to the United States and to the Upper Peninsula to be closer to family. That’s where Yooper Country Farms began.

“We are proud that our farm chooses not to use any pesticides or herbicides in the production of our vegetables,” Mac Guzman said over email. “We also offer a ‘you-choose’ community supported agriculture. Instead of receiving a pre-packaged box of vegetables, we allow our members to select the vegetables that best fit their needs.”

This year marks the third farming season in the U.P. for Yooper Country Farms and its second season offering CSA.

The CSA production and marketing model allows consumers buy shares of a farm’s harvest in advance.

“CSA for us means building a locally-sustainable community grounded in locally-produced and locally-sourced (products),” Mac Guzman said.

CSA memberships help to fund Yooper Country Farms’ growing season.

This year, Yooper Country Farms used CSA funds to purchase seeds, several fruit trees and a new hoop house to extend the U.P.’ short growing season.

Having local farms like Yooper Country Farms helps ensure food is available and accessible to the community, Mac Guzman said. Buying from local farms also keeps money and resources within the community.

“I think most people believe that buying into a CSA means a box of preselected veggies. In reality there are a wide variety of CSAs a person can participate in and every CSA has different options.” Mac Guzman said. “People should shop around and find the farmers and farm products that fit their values and needs.”

The biggest challenge with running Yooper Country Farms has been the cost of operations, Mac said, as it is still in the early years.

“It is quite costly to start a farm from scratch,” Mac said. “There is a lot of infrastructure to purchase in order to make farming on our scale possible.”

Despite the challenge, the Guzman’s see the reward that comes from farming as well.

“The biggest reward in running our farm has been the people,” Mac Guzman said. “Our lives have been touched by so many incredible humans since we first put our shovels in the ground up here in the U.P.”

Yooper Country Farms can be found every Saturday morning during growing season at the Marquette Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and on Monday evenings at the Munising Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market. Anyone interested in Yooper Country Farms’ CSA can email them at yooperfarms@gmail.com, visit online at yoopercountry.com or call at 719-661-9067.

Yooper Country Farms also has a Youtube channel were people can see the farm and the antics that go on by searching Yooper Country Farms.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 248. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.