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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Utah farmers and ranchers are an important part of the Utah economy. Agriculture production contributed 1.2 percent to the GDP nationally and .6 percent in Utah in 2014. Agriculture industry production in 2014 was over $800 million. It's not an easy profession, but for first-generation, local farming family Cari and Thayne Tagge of Tagge's Famous Fruit, they wouldn't do anything else.
Tagge's Famous Fruit can be found in nine seasonal fruit stand locations and in booths at 11 community farmers markets — impressive for an operation that started selling Bear Lake raspberries in 1982.
At the time, Thayne was a CPA, and during his vacation, he'd pick up berries and bring them to Salt Lake to sell. Interestingly enough, he made more money selling raspberries than he did the entire year in accounting. That's when he knew he was onto something. Eventually, the Tagges bought their own land to harvest and sell their own fruits and vegetables. Since then Tagge's Famous Fruit has grown exponentially. The Tagges have even created a Community Sponsored Agriculture Program to share their produce locally.
As times have changed, so has Tagge's Famous Fruit. The selling process is now more formal. They've installed drip irrigation which helped them decrease water use by 75 percent. Their season went from three weeks to a hectic four months. In recent years, the growing demand for organic produce has risen, so the Tagges now offer certified organic Willard Bay blackberries. There's also over 30 varieties of peaches including the famous Brigham City Peaches. So, they sell a wide selection of homemade salsas and jams as well.
Cari and Thayne genuinely enjoy farming. Thayne's favorite part is working the land and literally seeing the fruits of his labor. He calls himself a "fruit snob" because he will only eat cherries, his favorite fruit, right off the tree. If you come to one of their stands, you'll discover why Tagge's Famous Fruit has had loyal customers for 25 plus years.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Tagge's Famous Fruit 3431 S. Hwy 89 Perry, UT 84302 www.taggesfamousfruit.com
