wasabi. a little about myself i am joe halter. i have a b.b.a., with a major in accounting from...
TRANSCRIPT
WASABIWASABI
A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELFA LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF
• I am Joe Halter.
• I have a B.B.A., with a major in Accounting from W.M.U.
• I have over 25 years of accounting work experience.
• I have always wanted to run my own business.
• In the past I have operated a lawn care business and an income tax preparation business.
RELATED EXPERIENCERELATED EXPERIENCE
• I have always loved to grow plants of all kinds.
• While in high school I worked at a tree nursery.
• I have extensive experience propagating plants.
• I currently have a 16’ X 24’ greenhouse.
MY BUSINESS IDEA MY BUSINESS IDEA
• I would like to grow and distribute wasabi.• Wasabi is a semi-aquatic plant
• Native to the Japanese mountains• Wasabi is used to make a condiment, mainly used with sushi.• It also has medical uses. • It is a member of the same plant family as horseradish and
cabbage.
• Most of what is called wasabi in the market today is fake. Made from horseradish and green food coloring.
MY BUSINESS IDEA MY BUSINESS IDEA
• Real wasabi is cherished by the Japanese and I am told it is much better tasting.
• Because of its perceived difficulty in growing there is a short supply.
• There is a high demand for real wasabi and it is growing rapidly.
• With the rising popularity of sushi in the U.S., demand for real wasabi here is growing here too.
JOBS JOBS
• Planting, harvesting, and maintenance of crop
• Processing into the finished product and packaging
• Micro-propagation lab to create young wasabi plants
• Office staff
• Marketing
• Miscellaneous jobs
• Outside vendors.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS COMMUNITY BENEFITS
• This regional area could become a large producer of wasabi.
• If the conditions can be produced to make it profitable to economically grow wasabi here, other crops could be grown here.
• Research in the use of alternative energy sources in my project could benefit other current industries in the area and new ones. Geothermal energy for instance.
• Additional research opportunities could develop.
• Diversifying the economy.
MY NEXT STEPSMY NEXT STEPS
• Talk to agriculture professionals.
• Talk to alternative energy engineers.
• Talk to regular engineers.
• Talk to local sushi restaurant owners.
• Talk to local, state and federal government officials.
• Talk to financial professionals.