Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Duke.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on a family farm in the Midwest. My background is in agriculture, with experience in large-scale ag production. I moved to Utah to become involved with organic vegetable production with the International Rescue Committee’s New Roots program. Utah legalized hemp production in 2019 with a pilot program for growers, and we got a license to start growing. Britney Beardmore, my co-founder, and I are long-time friends, and I convinced her to help with the farm’s hemp flower harvest.
She was intrigued by the beautiful plants and the care and process for growing the harvest. Beardmore grew up in Texas and has an educational and professional background in medical imaging and cancer research. She was excited about the latest research on cannabinoids for health and wellness, especially sleep. Beardmore and I decided to start Acrely Farms with our first product launch in 2020, a CBD tincture for sleep and anti-inflammatory benefits.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We experience many regulatory challenges in the CBD industry. We have been kicked out of banks, credit card processing companies, and many other places.
We encountered many unexpected roadblocks, and finding a way around and moving forward is rewarding. The people and customers we meet make the process more enjoyable and worthwhile.
We’ve been impressed with Acrely Farms, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Acrely started with a single seed and sprouted into a dream to share the healing power of the organic hemp plant. While growing the plants, we became intrigued with hemp and CBD products and the need for quality, consistency, and transparency within the current market.
We realized the vast benefits of the hemp plant and wanted to find a way to share that with others. At Acrely, we believe it is important to follow the plant through its life cycle – from Bloom to Bottle. Our story is bigger than a product, it is a synergistic relationship between people and plants. One of our foremost endeavors is to minimize excessive packaging, with a particular emphasis on reducing plastic usage within the realm of spa products. At Acrely Farms, our commitment to sustainability extends to every facet of our operations, including our packaging choices.
We take a conscientious approach by exclusively utilizing glass packaging and refraining from any unnecessary per-product packaging. This deliberate decision plays a pivotal role in our waste reduction efforts. Glass, being infinitely recyclable, aligns harmoniously with our environmental ethos, minimizing our footprint while offering an enduring solution to packaging waste.
Engaging with the community is a priority for our team, which led to the opening of our flagship brick-and-mortar store. Located in the Maven District in Salt Lake City, we love providing education on CBD and sharing products with those in need.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Britney and I recently graduated with a Master of Business Creation (MBC) from the University of Utah. The MBC is a business degree that emphasizes scaling businesses and provides mentoring and education.
The program is a business incubator with industry leaders teaching and mentoring early start-ups. We highly recommend the MBC for all new business owners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://acrelyfarms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrelyfarms/?_ga=2.149145013.2045096292.1693072502-127298978.1693072502
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acrelyfarms/?_ga=2.149145013.2045096292.1693072502-127298978.1693072502
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-duke-67621621b/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrelyfarms?_ga=2.149145013.2045096292.1693072502-127298978.1693072502
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@acrelyfarms
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/acrely-farms-salt-lake-city?osq=acrely+farms
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@acrelyfarms
Image Credits
@acrelyfarms
