Delaware County shrimp farmer finding niche in local seafood market – BizTimes.biz

NEW VIENNA, Iowa — About three years ago, portable-toilet business owner Randy Harter sought to completely shift gears. That line of work required frequent travel, which he said had detrimental effects on his health and well-being. A session in Ames about shrimp farming piqued the Delaware County man’s interest.

“I’ve always liked fishing and I like shrimp,” he said.

Soon after, Harter converted a building on his property at 3205 Iowa 3 in between Colesburg and Luxemburg — though officially a New Vienna address — into Shrimp Down Yonder.

His building includes seven large tanks for mature shrimp as well as nursery tanks that contain the shrimp postlarvae until they grow to about a gram.

“They’re really tiny, smaller than a mosquito, larvae,” Harter said.

All in all, Harter estimates he has 40,000 whiteleg shrimp in the tanks currently.

Among the poultry, pork and cattle farms of Iowa, Harter’s operation stands out.

“Shrimp farming in Iowa is relatively rare, with only a few operations in the state,” said Thomas Detmer, director of the USDA’s North Central Regional Aquaculture Center. “Shrimp farms have appeared in Iowa from time to time, though many have struggled to achieve long-term success.”

Harter said he has felt the difficulties of breaking into the industry. While he has some regular customers, he has been unsuccessful thus far in selling his shrimp to local retailers. Still, there are glimmers of hope, he said.

“I’m still trying to find my niche,” he said. “Sales are just starting to pick up. I’m still finding out what people want.”

As the business continues to grow, Harter said he plans on possibly raising tilapia in the near future.

Harter said the operation can be stressful at times, with equipment sometimes malfunctioning. He said he lost a significant chunk of his shrimp during an electrical failure at Easter.

Harter is also working on making his operations more efficient.

“I’m trying to get everything automated … but that takes a lot of money,” he said.

Due to the small presence of shrimp farming in Iowa, Harter can source few elements of his business locally. He gets his shrimp from a breeder in Minnesota, his feed from a Pennsylvania company that normally services zoos, and the salt for his tanks from Maryland.

Despite the challenges of raising crustaceans in Iowa, some see potential in Harter’s business.

Detmer noted that the market for seafood in the Midwest is growing, meaning a business offering local, fresh shrimp has potential.

“Across the Midwest, shrimp farming — and aquaculture more broadly — remains uncommon compared to other forms of agricultural, though the opportunity seems to be there because of high demand for healthy seafood,” Detmer said.

Matt Lansing, an agriculture education instructor at Western Dubuque Community School District with knowledge of aquaculture, is in contact with Harter regarding his possible expansion to tilapia farming. Lansing has raised tilapia with his students for several years.

Like Detmer, Lansing said he, too, only knows of a handful of shrimp farms across Iowa, but sees potential in Harter’s business.

“I know he’s working hard to get the shrimp going,” Lansing said. “We’re in the heart of beef country, but I think he can be successful as people realize (his product’s) quality.”

Lansing said as northeast Iowa’s population continues to diversify, there will be higher demand for agricultural products that were previously not considered popular in Iowa. For example, the tilapia Lansing farms is popular with the region’s Indian community. He recently connected a sheep-farming acquaintance with a student’s South African family who had trouble finding the meat in local supermarkets.

“I think as the diversity of our population grows, there’s more of a market for that kind of stuff,” Lansing said.

After some trial and error in the past few years, Harter said he believes he has got shrimp farming “figured out.” He said he does not regret making that career switch.

“It all takes time,” he said. “I like (shrimp farming) more. My body’s healing.”