This family is farming to make Cyprus a self-sufficient island

Learn how HerbanLeaf Farms is reducing dependence on imports by growing food locally in a container farm.

Watch this webinar to hear how Myrianthi from HerbanLeaf Farms launched the container farming business.

Recorded Tuesday, December 1st at 10AM EST.

Island Farm Webinar | HerbanLeaf Farms | Freight Farms

What you’ll learn:

The value of Freight Farming on an island
Building a business with a container farm
The pros and cons of a new farmer lifestyle

A year-round source of local food

When Myrianthi’s father first discovered Freight Farms, he easily pitched the idea to the whole family. To them, this was an opportunity to participate in an innovative new farming technique and take a step towards making Cyprus a most independent island.

Like most small island communities in the world, Cyprus relies heavily on imports for fresh food. This reliance is exacerbated by the island’s environment: brutal heat and arid conditions in the summer, strong destructive rains in the winter. With their Freight Farm, Myrianthi and her mother, Maria, don’t have to worry about the sun or the rain. It’s a balmy 70ºF everyday and they’re growing the freshest produce around.

Island Farm | HerbanLeaf Farms | Freight Farms — “Every time we bring someone into the farm they’re absolutely amazed and shocked at the flavors... In Cyprus, you buy greens and they last for two day–you have to throw them away. There’s no flavor, no nutritional value…nothing.”

- Myrianthi Oxtoby

Not your typical family farm

Even though neither she nor her mother had any prior farming experience, Myrianthi was able to learn the Freight Farms technology quickly. Although there was a steep learning curve to begin with, Myrianthi was able to overcome the challenges with hard work, dedication, and support from the Freight Farms team. Together, Myrianthi and her mother handle all the farm operations with help from Myrianthi’s father and husband when either have spare time. Myrianthi is also the social media, marketing, and brand manager for the farm, and creator of the name HerbanLeaf Farms (one of our all time favorites!)

Interested in how to kick start your container farming business?

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Agility in the face of COVID-19

Prior to COVID-19, HerbanLeaf farm’s business model was focused on serving chefs at Cyprian restaurants, resorts, and hotels. However, as COVID-19 withered the tourism industry and restaurants were forced to lock their doors, the family turned to their community with a new direct-to-consumer offering.

With an online ordering platform and a delivery service, HerbanLeaf Farms is now able to distribute their produce all over the island. Earlier this year as COVID-19 restrictions were temporarily loosened, Myrianthi was able to reignite the farm’s business relationships with restaurants and hotels. However, as the COVID situation continues to be unpredictable, the family is glad that they have two independent and robust customer bases.

A wide product offering

What keeps HerbanLeaf customers coming back? A huge variety of fresh food at qualities not often seen elsewhere on the island. HerbanLeaf grows an impressive roster of plants. The most popular is a lettuce mix with four to six different varieties. If that’s not diverse enough, the farm also offers five different salad blends with lettuces, leafy greens, and mustard greens, plus kale, herbs, pac choi and more. Restaurant customers come to HerbanLeaf Farms for vibrantly colored baby leaves and edible flowers.

Just the beginning

All in all, Myrianthi sees big potential for local farming in Cyprus. Myrianthi observes that “the younger generation is looking for local food and something that is healthier…From the beginning, we have been trying to education [our community] on the benefits of buying local…there is a big market.”

The pandemic might have even accelerated the interest in container farming. Together, Myrianthi and her family are the pioneers of what is poised to be a large and successful market both in Cyprus and in island communities around the world!