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.