Tyler Russell says there is a particular pride that comes from seeing something grown on his own land sitting on a grocery store shelf.
Russell Prairie Market grows, harvests, prepares and packages black and pinto beans on their family farm in Carman before selling them in Manitoba grocery stores and to international customers. The Russell family — Heidi, Tyler, Blake (10), Rhett (6) and Hanna (9) — pictured during the first day of this year’s bean harvest
Russell and his family grow, prepare and package black and pinto beans on their farm west of Carman, marketing them under their homegrown label, Russell Prairie Market. Their products are now stocked in about 20 Manitoba grocery stores, including the Carman Co-op, and have begun finding customers outside the province.
“There’s this sense of importance of knowing where the food you eat comes from,” Russell said. “And I know exactly what area of our field the beans were grown in.”
The idea for Russell Prairie Market took shape during the height of the pandemic, when the family began researching canning procedures and exploring ways to bring their beans directly to consumers. They wanted to offer a simple, local product without fillers or preservatives found in many larger commercial brands.
Their logo — a sketch of a prairie farmyard — is taken from a photo of his wife Heidi’s family farm near Elm Creek.
“We didn’t know this would be possible when we started out, but we have proved to ourselves that we can do this even amidst raising our three kids,” Russell said. Their children, aged six, nine and ten, play a role in the business from planting to harvest to packing.
“From putting the seeds in the ground to crop production and eventually seeing our products on the shelves helps them understand the business at a wider scale,” he said. “It also makes them feel proud because they can say, ‘I helped make that.’”
Russell has farmed for 25 years and says beans are only one part of the operation. The family also grows grain corn and soybeans, and they intend to grow the bean business slowly and sustainably.
His long-term goal is to create a viable farm that can be passed on to the next generation.
“There are a lot of moving metrics and different market environments which can make it challenging, but that is all a part of making a good business and helping the farm succeed,” he said. “We will try to push and expand our business as time moves on, but right now we are starting small and learning the ins and outs of this all.”
Russell acknowledges that some small food producers struggle to compete for shelf space against larger national brands. For now, he says his family is grateful to have found a supportive customer base and retailers willing to make room for local food.
“We will continue staying small, learn the game, hang out and enjoy it so we can continue to bring a safe and sustainable product to Manitobans,” he said.
