LOCAL FLORIST TURNING TO WORMS
Thursday, March 20th, 2008 -- 2:09 PM
A local florist is getting out of the business after 30-plus years.Kent and Mary Luedtke have run Luedtke Floral and Greenhouse in Neillsville since Thanksgiving of 1976, but they're ready to hang up the Baby's Breath and try something new.
"Sales keep decreasing, overhead keeps increasing and, of course, health insurance is a major, major factor," Luedtke says, "We just figure we can do something else and make as much money with half the amount of work."
The floral industry has changed over the years. Most florists, including Luedtke, have been importing more and more.
"It was cheaper to buy them than to grow them," Luedtke notes, "The bedding plant industry took off?we expanded, we tripled greenhouse production and things went good for 20 years, then everyone else got into it."
Luedtke appreciated the greenhouse work, which always brought a little warmth and green, even during the throes of winter.
"The end of March will be it."
Luedtke's new concern is worms. He's found a new niche with his [url=http://www.cccrawlers.com]Clark County Crawlers[/url] business, which produces top-notch night crawlers for bait, plus a worm-casting bi-product that is increasing in popularity as a fertilizer and soil conditioner.
More on that Tuesday on In Depth.
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