I. Executive Summary

Company Description

MelonSplash Farms is an innovative watermelon farming business dedicated to providing sweet, organic, and non-GMO watermelons year-round in Fresno, California. Our unique agrotourism offerings, including pick-your-own activities, guided tours, and farm-to-table events, set us apart in the industry, providing an immersive and educational experience for our customers. Our key activities involve year-round cultivation of watermelons using traditional and greenhouse methods, as well as developing strong relationships with retailers and restaurants for wholesale distribution. MelonSplash Farms stands out with its extended growing season, commitment to sustainability, and emphasis on health-conscious living. Our primary target market includes health-conscious consumers, local grocery stores, restaurants, families, and schools interested in agrotourism and educational experiences.

Problem

The Problem Worth Solving for MelonSplash Farms revolves around addressing the challenges faced by consumers and retailers in accessing high-quality, sweet, organic, and non-GMO watermelons beyond the traditional growing season. The current market scenario presents the following pain points:

• Limited Availability: Consumers struggle to find consistently sweet and organic watermelons outside of the short traditional growing season, leading to inconsistent supply and quality.
• Lack of Year-Round Access: The seasonal nature of watermelon farming results in a gap in the market for year-round availability of high-quality watermelons, which is particularly crucial for health-conscious consumers and businesses seeking organic produce.
• Inadequate Agrotourism Options: Families, schools, and individuals interested in farm-to-table experiences and educational outings lack sufficient options for engaging with watermelon farming activities and learning about sustainable agricultural practices.

Consequently, customers and retailers face the challenge of sourcing premium watermelons consistently, which impacts their ability to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers and those seeking organic, sustainable produce. Additionally, the lack of immersive agrotourism experiences leaves a gap in recreational and educational offerings related to watermelon farming, limiting the exposure of individuals and organizations to sustainable agricultural practices.

Solution

MelonSplash Farms aims to address the need for high-quality, organic, and non-GMO watermelons throughout the year while providing an engaging agrotourism experience for consumers, retailers, and educational institutions. Our innovative solutions include developing extended-season watermelon varieties, offering agrotourism services, and establishing direct consumer sales and wholesale channels. These solutions effectively address the problem of inconsistency in the availability of high-quality watermelons outside of the traditional growing season and the lack of engaging agrotourism experiences in the market.

Mission Statement

At MelonSplash Farms, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality organic watermelons while promoting sustainable farming practices and offering an educational agrotourism experience. Our mission is to cultivate delicious, non-GMO watermelons year-round, foster community engagement, and inspire healthy, eco-conscious living.

Key Success Factors

Financial Summary

The financial summary of MelonSplash Farms outlines the projected revenue, profitability, and expected return on investment (ROI) over the initial three years of operation.

The initial funding requirement for MelonSplash Farms is $1.5 million, with an anticipated ROI of 10% by the end of the third year.

With a solid financial plan in place, the future looks promising for MelonSplash Farms, with a positive trajectory for revenue, profitability, and returns on investment.

Funding Requirements

WatermelonWaves Farms requires a substantial amount of funding to support its startup and operational needs. The funding will be utilized for various purposes, including land purchase, greenhouse setup, marketing and sales efforts, operational expenses, and staffing requirements.

II. Products & Services

Problem Worth Solving

The Problem Worth Solving for MelonSplash Farms revolves around addressing the challenges faced by consumers and retailers in accessing high-quality, sweet, organic, and non-GMO watermelons beyond the traditional growing season. The current market scenario presents the following pain points:

• Limited Availability: Consumers struggle to find consistently sweet and organic watermelons outside of the short traditional growing season, leading to inconsistent supply and quality.
• Lack of Year-Round Access: The seasonal nature of watermelon farming results in a gap in the market for year-round availability of high-quality watermelons, which is particularly crucial for health-conscious consumers and businesses seeking organic produce.
• Inadequate Agrotourism Options: Families, schools, and individuals interested in farm-to-table experiences and educational outings lack sufficient options for engaging with watermelon farming activities and learning about sustainable agricultural practices.

Consequently, customers and retailers face the challenge of sourcing premium watermelons consistently, which impacts their ability to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers and those seeking organic, sustainable produce. Additionally, the lack of immersive agrotourism experiences leaves a gap in recreational and educational offerings related to watermelon farming, limiting the exposure of individuals and organizations to sustainable agricultural practices.

Our Solution

MelonSplash Farms aims to address the need for high-quality, organic, and non-GMO watermelons throughout the year while providing an engaging agrotourism experience for consumers, retailers, and educational institutions. Our innovative solutions include:

• Extended-Season Watermelon Varieties: We will develop a diverse range of watermelon varieties that can be cultivated year-round, ensuring a consistent supply of sweet and organic watermelons for consumers and businesses, even outside of the traditional growing season.
• Agrotourism Services: Our farm will offer guided tours, pick-your-own activities, and farm-to-table events that showcase sustainable farming practices. This unique, educational, and enjoyable experience will cater to families, schools, and health-conscious consumers seeking a farm-to-table adventure.
• Direct Consumer Sales and Wholesale Channels: With a focus on selling at least 80% of our watermelons directly to consumers or through wholesale channels, we aim to establish MelonSplash Farms as a leading provider of sweet, organic, and non-GMO watermelons in California by the end of 2024.

These solutions effectively address the problem of inconsistency in the availability of high-quality watermelons outside of the traditional growing season, as well as the lack of engaging agrotourism experiences in the market. By offering year-round watermelon varieties and agrotourism services, MelonSplash Farms provides a dependable source of quality watermelons while promoting healthy eating, sustainable living, and agricultural education.

Unique Selling Proposition

At MelonSplash Farms, our unique selling proposition lies in the combination of providing high-quality, organic, non-GMO watermelons year-round and offering an immersive agrotourism experience. This sets us apart from traditional watermelon producers and agrotourism venues, offering a one-of-a-kind value proposition to our target market. We aim to deliver superior products and services that cater to the growing demand for organic produce, sustainable farming practices, and educational farm experiences.

• Year-round availability of high-quality, organic, non-GMO watermelons
• Advanced greenhouse technology for extended growing seasons
• Unique agrotourism experiences for families, schools, and health-conscious consumers
• Commitment to sustainable farming practices and education in agriculture
• Competitive pricing combined with added value for customers

Development Stage and Future Plans