Matt Stephens

Rory is such a champ for putting up with drunk New Yorkers man.

Here's How Orchards Diversify to Survive Running an orchard on apples alone is risky: short season, weather swings, thin margins. Here’s how smart orchards diversify, and why it works: 1. Hard Cider & Value-Add Products Vermont’s cider economy = $100–135M annually, supporting…

Apple orchards have ~6 weekends. Each October weekend = 10–15% of annual sales. Two rainy weekends in a row? That can erase 30% of the year’s income. Ripple Effects It’s not just the farmers. When crowds don’t show up: - Staff hours get cut (pickers, donut stand, hayride…

The Cider Boom Hard cider has been reshaping farm economics in Vermont. Vermont’s cider economy = $100–135M annually. Supports 300+ local jobs directly tied to cider apple production. VT ranks #1 in the U.S. for cider consumption per capita. Many orchards now plant dual-use…

Let's talk about the "Orchard Economy" of New England Apple may just be a fall activity for some. A date or a family day. For people that run apple orchards, these next few weeks are a lifeline. Orchards make 40–60% of annual revenue in just 6 weekends. MA alone has 100+…

The last few posts: In New England, Labor Day marks the flip. Cape Cod and coastal towns see hotel occupancy plunge 70% overnight, lobster prices sink, ferries shut down, and seasonal workers clear out. At the same time, demand doesn’t disappear but it shifts north and…

And for October... October looks like “bonus season,” but for many small businesses it’s the hardest month of the year. Inns run at 90%+ occupancy while staff is already cut back. Restaurants push holiday-weekend menus with skeleton crews. By November, half those jobs vanish.…

When the leaves turn, so do the highways. Kancamagus (NH): normally ~1 hr becomes 2+ hrs on October weekends. Route 100 (VT): ~1 hr per scenic stretch turns to 2 hrs+ in peak foliage. Columbus Day weekend = the worst. You have to plan staff + deliveries midweek or early…

September literally moves New England’s tourist economy. Cape Cod hotels drop 70% occupancy after Labor Day → restaurants cut shifts, shops close early. Vermont & NH inns climb to 90%+ by October → small towns double their weekend population. For seasonal businesses, it’s a…

New England’s rental economy runs like a relay race: Summer: Cape Cod, Islands, Maine coast packed with seasonal workers + weekly renters. September: College towns (Boston, Providence, Amherst) take over as 200k+ students move in. October: Fall foliage hubs (Vermont, NH,…

Pick up the microphone

September and October mark the last runs of New England’s summer trains + ferries + planes and other public transport. The CapeFLYER ends service after Labor Day and thousands of tourists vanish overnight. Amtrak shifts cars from Cape + Downeaster to fall commuter routes. Bus…

September fairs are survival for many communities. The Big E in Massachusetts draws 1.6M visitors in 17 days, generating ~$85M in spending. The Fryeburg Fair (Maine) pumps ~$30M into Oxford County in a single week. One weekend of ticket sales, food booths, and rentals can fund…

September is when lobster season turns cruel. After summer demand peaks, prices drop just as fuel + bait costs rise. Restaurants scale back hours, meaning fewer buyers. In Maine, lobster is a $1.5B industry so a price dip in September can ripple through fuel docks, processors,…

A few more ways September flips New England’s economy. Cape Cod hotels empty (70% occupancy drop after Labor Day). Then, Boston fills with 150,000+ college students, a population bigger than Worcester. Providence, RI ~30,000 students return across Brown, RISD, Providence…

September in New England is foliage AND harvest. It's not just apples... Massachusetts cranberries: 2.2M barrels forecast for 2024 → 27% of the entire U.S. crop. Wellfleet oysters: 12.5M harvested in 2023, ~$9M in value, in a town of only 3,000. These industries quietly…

The Universal Truth from Acadia's Data: Sustainable seasonal businesses share three characteristics: + Value over Volume: Higher transaction values beat higher transaction counts + Proximity Optimization: Location matters, but execution matters more + Infrastructure Investment:…

Park Data Part 3 The Hidden Crisis in Plain Sight: Acadia's economy needs 8,000 seasonal workers Available housing: 2,000 units The gap: 6,000 workers competing for solutions Businesses providing worker housing see: 80% staff return rate (vs. 30% without) $2,000 saved per…

Park Data Part 2 The Data Behind Location Premiums: Acadia proximity analysis reveals the "5-10-25 Rule": Within 5 miles of park: $312 revenue per sq ft Within 10 miles: $198 revenue per sq ft Beyond 25 miles: $67 revenue per sq ft This 4.6x revenue differential justifies…

Jimmy Buffett died 2 years ago. A lot of folks knew him as the "Margaritaville" or "Cheeseburger in Paradise" guy. He was so much more. He's one of my favorite songwriters—and entrepreneurs. He built an empire. Here's how: