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“We never think, ‘It’s not my job’,” says Jessica. “If dad needs help the chance to sample local products. Entertainment is provided and
with something, one of us will slip out and help him.” visitors are asked to bring a donation for the food bank.

Jessica also credits their staff as a big part of their success. “It’s such an amazing day and we all look forward to it,” says Cindy.
They also have plans to one day expand the store’s kitchen and gar-
“We have an excellent staff who also jump right in and help without den centre.
us asking them,” she says.
“But you have to manage growth well,” says Cindy. “We’ve been
And although the family enjoys working together daily, they do have conservative in some ways and in other ways not at all.”
separate living arrangements. Jessica resides in a small house on the
property about 400 feet from her parents. “But it’s a very important For example, she credits their son, who works for a Waterloo com-
400 feet,” she jokes. pany after obtaining his master’s degree in climate change, for sug-
gesting a few years ago they expand their fresh vegetable inventory.
Cindy says the shared vision the family and staff have for providing “So, we spun the store around and put more emphasis on it and it
the best quality and promoting local producers is key and their cus- turned out to be a good thing,” she says. “Now we are a one-stop
tomers clearly appreciate it. shop.”

“My parents don’t put their name on any products in the store they Cindy and Mark also look forward to a time when they can work a
don’t produce,” says Jessica. “I think that’s what sets us apart.” few less hours. But the notion of retirement is something they are
Cindy says they don’t look at other farmers as competition and often not entertaining any time soon.
send their customers to check out the farms of their suppliers. “I think we’ll always be involved because it’s our lifestyle. What else
“We really want everybody to be stronger in the farming commu- am I going to do? ” jokes Mark.
nity,” she says. “It’s only going to help everyone else.”

That sense of community is very important to the Gerbers who, be- PHOTO PAGE 34:
sides sponsoring a variety of sports teams and initiatives, also host Quality and freshness mean everything to Oakridge Acres Country Meat
Store. Cindy and Mark Gerber with their daughter Jessica.
an annual Fall Farm Day to benefit the Cambridge Self-Help Food
Bank. Held the last Saturday of September, the event gives their sup-
pliers the chance to set up booths to allow customers and residents

www.cambridgechamber.com 37
Spring 2019