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lemoneater (88.58)

Orchids and Tomatoes: Two Economic Rulebreaker Tales

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August 26, 2009 – Comments (11)

     Once upon a time (the 1930's) there was a florist. This florist lived in a suburb of Chicago with his wife and family. His favorite flower was not the rose, but the orchid. His passion for orchids--exotic flowers unlike any other flower--could not have happened at a more fortunate time for him. He read the newspapers, heard the radio, and observed the happenings around him, but he didn't personally experience the Great Depression. He always had businessmen who would buy his lovely orchids as symbols of status and regard. Then as now, if you bought a girl a rose, she would think "how romantic." But if you bought the girl an orchid, whether she liked you or not, she would think, "he is rich to be able to afford such a rare flower."  'Say it with [orchids].' He lived a comfortable middle class life at a time when the middle class was almost extinct. The End.

     A long time ago there was a radiator repairman (not a plumber!). business was slow. It was the 1930's. He was concerned that he would lose his home, but he grew these amazing, delicious tomatoes all his neighbors wanted them http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/mortgage_lifter_heirloom_tomato  so he lived happily ever after. The End.

What "orchids" or "tomatoes" industries are waiting for us? Niche market or wide appeal? what valuable, desirable products or services does America have to offer itself and/or the rest of the world? 

PS. I like the term "rulebreaker" I didn't think MF would mind if I used the word as long as I credited them properly:)

 

11 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On August 26, 2009 at 9:34 AM, givmeabreak (29.80) wrote:

From your link:

"

Mortgage Lifter heirloom tomato was developed in the early 1930's by a man named M.C. “Radiator Charlie” Byles. Byles was a radiator repairman who, like many of his countrymen, struggled to keep his finances in order during the Great Depression. As the story goes, Radiator Charlie cross-bred the largest tomatoes he could find in his hometown of Logan, West Virginia, and sold the resulting plants for a dollar each. The profits he earned were substantial enough that he was able to pay down his mortgage with them!

Thomas Jefferson grew Mortgage Lifter tomatoes in his extensive vegetable gardens at Monticello from 1809 until his death in 1826. "

How was it that Charlie invented the variety in the 1930's, and Thomas Jefferson grew them in the early 1800's?

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#2) On August 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM, brickcityman (< 20) wrote:

Heirloom Tomatoes and Orchids does not an economy make...

 

I am fully onboard with the notion that innovation and unforeseen areas of growth are ultimately the catalyst required to remove us from quagmire, but I have my doubts.

 

I am really beginning to think that our government has become the biggest anti-innovation force in our midst.  And no I do not attribute this to taxes (one needs to have profits before worrying about taxes)...  I attribute it to the fact that our government is all too beholden to two anti-innovative groups...  Large established businesses and Social conservatives.

 

Big business has no real interest in doing anything other than milking their product lines to the greatest extent possible.  Sure they may invest and produce new products, but this is only to retain market share.  I wouldn't be the least bit suprised if most corporate CEOs were anonymously polled and indicated that they would be more than happy to completely eliminate R&D if they didn't have to worry about competition.  Also along these lines we have somehow arrived at a point where every government action, especially that which deals with taxes, is viewed through the prism of the effects on the corporations and other wealthy interests.  Of course its not sold as such, instead its often the mythical "Joe the Plumbers" that get the lime-light, but never the less we've arrived at a point where business is a entity to be coddled instead of a force expected to fulfill its rightful places in the machinations of our economy.

 

As for social conservatives they attack on two fronts.  First they seek to shape and focus governments in ways that have little to do with our economic well-being and this in turn creates an enormous distraction from serious tasks at hand.  And secondly they actively campaign against investment in, pursuit of, and appreciation of scientific discovery.

 

Sad days

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#3) On August 26, 2009 at 10:12 AM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

Good question givemeabreak!

I'm sorry for the misinformation I should have chosen my link about Mortage Lifter heirloom more carefully. I was in a hurry so I just read the story that I was looking and went no further. Try this one instead  http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/tomatoes/heirloom+tomatoes/tomato+mortgage+lifter+(heirloom)+-+1+pkt+(50+seeds).do

As far as I'm know, Thomas Jefferson ate tomatoes, but he didn't have a time machine!

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#4) On August 26, 2009 at 10:52 AM, outoffocus (24.55) wrote:

brickcityman

You forgot the complacent and entitled masses who's main goal in life is to "get a good job, work for 40 years, then retire".  And yet they somehow think they will get rich that way.  Someone who is worried about getting a good job with bennies could care less about the small business owner, even though the small business owner is what drives this economy. So the shenanigans that the government and the big corporations pull that stifle innovation and small business fall under the radar because the masses are "comfortable" just working a 9-5. 

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#5) On August 26, 2009 at 11:16 AM, ReadEmAnWeep (32.00) wrote:

outoffocus:

That is a good point, most people are happy to accept medicrety as long as it isn't too hard. What would be your suggestion to break this? Start your own business?

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#6) On August 26, 2009 at 11:32 AM, outoffocus (24.55) wrote:

ReadEmAnWeep

Its going to take some hardship to come before people will be willing to take the plunge into starting their own businesses.  And please believe they will exhaust every possible entitlement program and government subsidy before they do so.  Creativity and innovation are often born out of necessity. As long as the masses are fat and happy, they have no real incentive to innovate.  Also, currently most Americans lack the work ethic, dedication and (most of all) financial acumen it takes to operate and maintain a business. 

Hopefully we will reach a point where people realize that the government is not the answer.  Then and only then will we see creativity, innovation, and ultimately production return to this country.

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#7) On August 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

outoffocus, I greatly admire the small business owner particularly the one successful enough to provide jobs to others. I wanted to be one myself to supplement our income. I only had a few thousand to experiment safely on my idea. So I started a small jewelry business with my husband. All the forms we had to fill out just to be a small partnership business were quite bewildering to me. With record keeping etc, the business ate up more time than it provided money. I was naive to think that it would be a perfect part time job! Investing has taken less effort and stress!  

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#8) On August 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM, brickcityman (< 20) wrote:

Good points all...  

 

But I'd counter that we've just had ourselves an example of wide-spread entrepenuership and the results were not that great.  Just look at the number of overnight real-estate brokers and amateur house flippers that cropped up. 

 

The problem in recent history has more to do with the goal of entrepenuership than the lack of it...  Being the master of ones own destiny, filling a need, and pursuing inventive aspirations have taken a back seat to getting rich quick.  Perhaps they always have, but I'm probably not qualified to judge that.

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#9) On February 11, 2010 at 8:25 AM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

I think purple sweet potatoes could be another success story like the orchids and the tomatoes. I wish the NC farmers well in their efforts to build a niche market.

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#10) On February 11, 2010 at 9:20 AM, catoismymotor (67.50) wrote:

Lemon,

I saw a farm that was just starting to produce purple potatos on an episode of Dirty Jobs from a couple of years back. They were not of the sweet variety but still looked pretty cool. I bet kids would eat purple potatos for the novilty alone. Could you imagine eating a plate of purple tater tots as a kid? Or hashbrowns?! That would have rocked!

I know what you mean about all the minutiae and time spent with running your own business. Even on the side it is alot of work. When my wife was in grad school I worked strictly by word of mouth as a wedding and event photographer while keeping a steady job. I kept my operation small and inexpensive to keep the headaches to a minimum. Since then it has become far more complicated. When I look at what I make versus how that breaks down per hour I sometimes contemplate cutting back, just taking weekend jobs and working for someone else like I did back then. I suppose I've been thinking about that for the last few years.  

Cato

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#11) On February 11, 2010 at 9:58 AM, lemoneater (88.58) wrote:

Yes, I had no idea all the neat colors the regular potato and the sweet potato came in. Who says food has to be boring!

I agree, record keeping is probably the dullest, most time consuming aspect of running one's own business. My jewelry business is in idle mode right now, because my husband is busy with teaching, etc. There is something to be said for working for someone else so that they have to worry about proper recording keeping, not you!

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