05/15/2026
Sometimes small business owners are forced into impossible situations.
One of our commercial meat freezers at Nature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest has gone down, and because of changing California refrigerant regulations, we legally cannot repair it the way it was originally built. A freezer that cost us around $3,100 new now costs nearly $11,000 to replace.
How does a small farm store keep up with this?
This is the reality many small farmers, ranchers, processors, and local food businesses are facing every single day. We are trying to do things honestly, legally, transparently, and responsibly, but the cost of equipment, labor, regulations, insurance, utilities, and compliance keeps climbing higher and higher while small businesses are expected to somehow survive.
To help us make room and reduce loss while we figure out our next steps:
🥣 ALL juices & soups are 50% OFF🥩 Beef, chicken, and limited pork & lamb products are available and need to move quickly🍦 Scoop of Nature will also be scooping the remaining ice cream inventory currently on hand before closing our ice cream shop
Unfortunately, with our ice cream supplier being sold and many changes happening with the new ownership, combined with our freezer situation, we need to repurpose our remaining freezer space just to keep our meat and farm products safe.
This is one of the hardest posts I’ve had to make because this business was built from passion, hard work, farming, community, and a belief that local food matters.
California business is rough right now. Farming is rough right now. Trying to legally sell honest food directly to consumers is becoming harder and harder for small producers to survive.
But we are still here. Still fighting. Still farming. Still trying.
If you’ve ever wanted to support local now is the time. Every purchase truly helps.
Thank you to everyone who continues to stand behind small farms, local food, and families trying to make it work. ❤️
Melanie BlankenshipNature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest
