OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING MINT FARM REMAINS IN FAMILY DESPITE SHERIFF’S SALE, FORECLOSURE, EVICTION AND AUCTION 

Crosby Mint Farm Tag Line “Expect Miracles” Pays Off

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI)  February 18^TH, 2010

Despite historic economic challenges facing America’s small- and mid-sized farms, the oldest continually operating mint farm in the U.S., Crosby Mint Farm, announced on February 5th that they were able to buy the farm back from their lender, Greenstone Farm Credit Services.

Despite a Sheriff’s Sale on August 14^th, 2008, a foreclosure and eviction on August 28^th, 2009, and a farm auction on December 10^th, 2009, the Crosby’s tag line of “Expect Miracles” came true when they received a letter stating they had the option to buy the farm back.

During an auction conducted in December by Stanton Auctioneers & Realtors, the farm was split into two parcels for bidders to purchase; (1) 40 acre parcel and (1) 100 acre parcel which included the house, buildings, and distillery.  Two preliminary purchase agreements were reached between Greenstone and other individuals. Because of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, and the fact that the original Crosby bid submitted in September was higher than the auction bids, they were given the Right of First Refusal to purchase both parcels.

If the opportunity presented itself, the Crosbys decided early on that the best option was to concentrate on buying back the remaining 100 acre parcel and let go of the 40 acre parcel.  On January 5^th, their dream came true when Greenstone elected to sell the remaining 100 acres they had hoped to someday get back into the family name.  The Crosbys are extremely grateful to an individual outside investor with whom an agreement was established. An offer to purchase the 100 acre farm was drafted, submitted, and accepted within the 30 days time period.  The almost 3 year battle was now over.

Linette Crosby and Peppermint Jim Crosby, call it the miracle they were hoping for, praying for and expecting to arrive at the farm. “Every package that goes out the door has an “Expect Miracles” stamp on it, and now that affirmation has come true”, says Linette Crosby.  The brother and sister extended a message of gratitude out to all the supporters, friends, customers and family though social media networks:

Dear friends,

We are thrilled to share the miracle that took place on Friday, February 5th, 2010!
Some of you may have already heard through the mint vine, that Crosby Mint Farm is back in the hands of the Crosby Family. The house, buildings, distillery, and 100 acres will remain; as the heritage continues into its 99th growing season.

It was your prayers, kindness, love, & support that brought us through this difficult process. Thank you so much for the emails, orders, and words of encouragement. So many of you volunteered at the farm during this time, and we are forever grateful.
This experience has changed our lives forever. It has confirmed our belief in the power of community.

We are looking forward to the future of the farm and want to extend an invitation to all of you to plan on visiting! We are formulating ideas and plans to create a farm unique for the community and beyond!

You will be forever in our hearts as you carried us through... Thank you for your friendship and for being a part of this miracle.

May you always,

Expect Miracles!!

Linette Crosby & Peppermint Jim

For media questions, comments etc. please email media@crosbymintfarm.com to schedule a phone or in person interview.

Contact Phone:  1-800-345-9068

To learn more about the farm and the essential mint oils please visit www.getmint.com

***MEDIA ALERT***

LANSING CITY MARKET, PEPPERMINT JIM AND CHEF NICK GEAR UP FOR THE PREMIERE OF THE FIRST ANNUAL TRAVELING STONE SOUP EVENT

BENEFITS TO PROCEED VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA AND THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lansing/St. Johns MI December 10^th 2009- John Hooper, manager of the Lansing City Market, Peppermint Jim, spokesperson of the Get Mint Trading Co., and Chef Nick, culinary professor at Lansing Community College are gearing up for the kick off of the First Annual Traveling Stone Soup Event at December 19, 2009 from noon till 7PM.

Stone soup is, according to the tale, a meal that started in a time of poverty as a stone in a pan with water, but with more and more people adding their own ingredients, together they make a nutritious soup for everybody to enjoy.

Goal of the event is to sell 500 bread bowls of soup for $5.00 each to raise $2.500 for Volunteers America. With this money the Michigan chapter of the VOA is able to feed 1250 people. 

Donations are welcomed as well and checks are to be made out to Volunteers of America. Left over soup will be donated to the Community Kitchen, located on 430 N. Larch, Lansing.  According to the VOA, meal service is up with 28% and they have served 105.000 meals by the end of the fiscal year.

All the ingredients are donated by (small) local Michigan producers for two enormous pans of soup that will hold chicken and vegetarian.  Otto’s Chicken, Westwind Milling Company, Riverside Studios, are some of the producers known so far to donate ingredients.

Each pan of soup will contain a special item, large enough to find and the lucky person to do so will receive a small prize.

The “stones” will travel to the next Stone Soup event. Businesses or organizations can apply to have the fund raising event held at their location. For more information, visit www.peppermintjim.com.

Contact:

Peppermint Jim Crosby and Chef Nick

media@crosbymintfarm.com            / peppermintjim@yahoo.com                         

989-307-2183 / 517-376-2217

Kate Reed, Volunteers of America Development Coordinator

kreed@voami.org

517-484-4414 Ext. 103

***MEDIA ALERT***

PEPPERMINT JIM AND CHEF NICK PRESENT: THE PREMIERE OF THE FIRST ANNUAL TRAVELING STONE SOUP EVENT

BENEFITS TO PROCEEDS VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA AND THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN

St. Johns/Lansing MI. December 3^rd 2009

On December 19^th from noon till 7:00PM the first annual Traveling Stone Soup Event will be held at the Lansing City Market. The event is organized by the Lansing City Market and the World Record holding duo Peppermint Jim Crosby from The Get Mint Trading Co.  and Chef Nick, culinary professor at Lansing Community College.

The duo is working in conjunction with the Lansing City Market in honor of supporting the vendors and local producers. It is also a part of the celebration of the closing of the old building after 71 years of service and the opening of the new building, where the Market will be housed early 2010. For more information on that, visit www.lansingcitymarket.com.

Stone soup is, according to the tale, a meal that started in a time of poverty as a stone in a pan with water, but with more and more people adding their own ingredients, together they make a nutritious soup for everybody to enjoy.

Goal of the event is to sell 500 bread bowls of soup for $5.00 each to raise $2.500 for Volunteers of America. With this money the Michigan chapter of the VOA is able to feed 1250 people. 

Donations are welcomed as well and checks are to be made out to Volunteers of America. Left over soup will be donated to the Community Kitchen, located on 430 N. Larch, Lansing.  According to the VOA, meal service is up with 28% and they have served 105.000 meals by the end of the fiscal year.

All the ingredients are donated by (small) local Michigan producers for two enormous pans of soup that will hold chicken and vegetarian.  Each pan of soup will contain a special item, large enough to find and the lucky person to do so will receive a small prize.

The “stones” will travel to the next Stone Soup event. Businesses or organizations can apply to have the fund raising event held at their location. For more information, visit www.peppermintjim.com.

Contact:

Peppermint Jim Crosby and Chef Nick

media@crosbymintfarm.com            / peppermintjim@yahoo.com                        

989-307-2183 / 517-376-2217

Kate Reed, Volunteers of America Development Coordinator

kreed@voami.org / 517-484-4414 Ext. 103 

***MEDIA ALERT***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI) December 8th, 2009 – At 6:00PM, December 10^th 2009, the Crosby Mint Farm may be facing its final chapter. Stanton Auctioneers will then take bids from potential buyers to purchase one or both of the parcels that make up the farm of a total of 140 acres.

Over the past year, the farm received a lot of media attention, local and national, due to the foreclosure and the tragedy of another family owned small farm vanishing.  This auction may be the end of the Crosby Mint Farm as the nation’s oldest, continuously family operated mint farm.  Public and media are invited to this public auction to show support, and to raise attention to this event.

The auction will be conducted in Smith Hall on the Clinton County Fairgrounds (west of St. Johns on M-21, on the North Side of the St. Johns High School).

***MEDIA ALERT***

MINT SHAKES WITH CROSBY MINT OIL BEST SELLERS AT GREAT PLAINS BURGER COMPANY

WORLD RECORD HOLDING DUO SUPPORTS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(MINT CITY, USA/St. Johns, MI) December 1, 2009. 

The World Record breaking duo Peppermint Jim Crosby and Culinary Professor Chef Nick from Lansing visited Great Plains Burger Company in Ann Arbor on November 2 to try out their latest item on the menu: Mint Shakes.

Great Plains Burger Co. owner Mo states: “It is the season and the Mint Shakes are the number one people’s choice.” The shakes are made with mint oil grown and distilled by Peppermint Jim Crosby, fourth generation mint farmer and spokesperson of the Crosby Mint Farm and the Get Mint Trading Co. in “Mint City USA” St. Johns.

Great Plains Burger Company opened its doors on October 8^th of this year, offering all natural, free-range local beef hamburgers and fresh locally bought produce, french fries fried in canola oil, antibiotic and hormone free hand dipped ice cream and shakes.

“For us, it’s about supporting local producers and small businesses through these challenging times,” according to Mo.

Featured item at Great Plains are the chocolate and vanilla mint flavored shakes perfected by Great Plains Burger Co.’s Joe Sisco, a.k.a. Chef Scotty. “I am very impressed and delighted by the quality of the peppermint oil from Peppermint Jim.”

Peppermint Jim and Chef Nick, who broke the World Record with the largest slab of fudge earlier this year, agree: “We are strong advocates in supporting Michigan businesses and local producers. Our experience visiting Great Plains Burger Company will be a memorable one; we are impressed with the genuineness of the staff, and the quality and value was truly outstanding. And of course; two thumbs up for the Mint Shakes, they are a must taste!!”

Photo courtesy of William Nicklosovich 2009

Contact:

Great Plains Burger Co.

1771 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

734-769-6900

www.greatplainsburger.com

Peppermint Jim Crosby, Get Mint Trading Co.

peppermintjim@yahoo.com

989-307-2183

www.peppermintjim.com / www.getmint.com