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OK, so I am in the early stages of taking my small organic, free range duck farm and relocating to New Mexico, where I plan to increase to farm 5x and start a hatchery for non-chicken fowl. Looking at several rentals across the state: Farmington, Demning, Las Cruces. A big factor in making the final decision is the price point I can achieve for my product, so among any here that is a regular shopper at your local farm market, can you give me an idea what the pricing of Muscovy duck eggs and meat are, the products are soy free, corn free, and are free range organic. Currently I am getting $20/doz for the eggs and $8/pound on the meat in San Diego. With rents seeming to be 30% less than SoCal, obviously, I have some latitude. Any guidance would be most appreciative.
You will probably pay in refrigerated shipping costs what you save in land costs, since most New Mexicans don't really have much of a taste for duck meat or eggs. They also tend not to spend on organic what Californians will spend.
I think what you do is great and I wish you every success, but I don't think you'll find a feasible market here in NM. I can get free-range, organic, locally grown chicken eggs here for less than $4/doz. I can get eggs from 100% pastured chickens that are hormone- and antibiotic free for $5/doz, and free-range, organic duck eggs from three vendors at $3/dozen. None of those growers make their living raising poultry or eggs, but all these "amateur" growers make enough of a supply that high quality, ethically raised eggs are readily available all year around for the few of us who care to buy them.
We just don't have the population or economy to support a thriving organic foods industry. I think the city of San Diego has over two thirds the population of the whole state of New Mexico, and its GDP is over twice what the NM's whole state GDP is. People here aren't as health conscious as Californians, and most New Mexicans aren't willing or able to pay extra for organic foods.
You should call and talk to the managers at the La Montanita Co-op based in Albuquerque, and, if you come here, visit the Saturday Grower's Markets in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I think they'll give you a good sense of what organic/ethical food producers are up against in such a poor desert state.
You might establish a very small market in Silver City, as we have a lot of Californians who have moved here. But, if you want to free range(in the full extent of not fencing the ducks in at all); you will want to have some very good guard dogs. Coyotes, hawks, and cougars would have a field day.
I like duck eggs but personally would not pay any more for those than I would for chicken eggs.
I hope you set up somewhere near Las Cruces, 'cause I love duck meat and duck eggs. They're worth a premium price, but I think you'd have to scale back the California prices.
The Las Cruces Downtown Farmers market might be good exposure for you.
I'd be a regular customer, especially for duck leg and thigh quarters. As it is now I buy em over in Tucson whenever I'm there visiting my mom and keep the freezer stocked up.
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