
Marin Sun Farms
Petaluma, CAIn December 2015, Mindful Meats received a line of credit to support working capital needs. Following their recent merger with Marin Sun Farms, the new company received an additional line of credit to expand the distribution channels for their packaged meat and egg products into grocery stores and provide them with more cash-on-hand to purchase livestock.
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David Evans & Claire Herminjard, Co-Executive Officers
Over the last one hundred years the majority of food production, processing and distribution has consolidated into a handful of large corporations. So began the fast decline of our country’s small farms and farmers.
Claire started Mindful Meats to connect local beef farmers who take great care of their land and animals to local markets and to build a brand that would represent those farmers’ values.
Simultaneously, David founded Marin Sun Farms in 1999 to be a gateway to market for many small farms raising livestock under the stringent protocol, which includes refraining from using antibiotics or hormones, humane treatment, and whole animal butchery.
Both of our organizations knew that the process of building resiliency in our local food system starts with diversifying supply back into the hands of many small farms. With that, we joined forces in January 2017, believing we could further this mission at a greater scale as one company.
Together, united as Marin Sun Farms (MSF), we manage our meat production from pasture to production to dining room plate. To ensure the long term viability of local livestock, we operate the last remaining USDA inspected abattoir in the San Francisco Bay Area (purchased by MSF in 2014), assuring that all the meat we process is in a facility that is Certified Organic and Animal Welfare Approved. We employ and empower local residents in Petaluma, Point Reyes Station, and Oakland with good jobs, ranging from ranch hands, livestock handlers, butchers, packers, drivers, salespeople, administrators, and dreamers.
Now with a more robust product portfolio as a result of the merger, the Marin Sun Farms team is exploring growth into grocery retail and institutional, with a focus on healthcare and education markets. With new opportunities, come new costs and the need to invest in more product to reach these markets.
Through Mindful Meats, Claire experienced being an RSF borrower. She knew that continuing the financial relationship would also benefit Marin Sun Farms, as it was important for the team to work with a lender that focused on catalyzing positive social and environmental impact. RSF and Marin Sun Farms share deep values alignment.
We are grateful for this rare and valuable relationship.
