Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Moehling.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The story started with my dad, a broke farmer, trying to sell his Cucumbers. A massive influx in the market made them dirt cheap and we just couldn’t afford to throw them away. Instead, he dumped them on the side of the road so he could reuse the boxes, and he sat me at the spot where my store is now and made me sell them. The first day no one stopped, so he took a hurricane shutter and spray painted “Robert Is Here” on it, and slowly I sold out the very next day. He then started adding more and more, and with help from the locals business blew up. We now have our store on 10 acres of land, with another 55 acres on my other farms and we grow a host of tropical fruit all on our own. We also support local farmers and sell their produce when we run out of our own!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing in life comes easy, we’ve had MANY bumps and bruises along the way. During Hurricane Andrew, my mother was murdered and the case still remains unsolved to this day. She ran the store with me, and most of the jarred items we have are her recipes. We’ve also had to deal with imported produce costing us some of our business because it’s so cheap to buy. Thankfully there’s been a great deal of people who stuck to buying from and supporting small, local businesses like mine.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm – what should we know?
Robert Is Here is a family-owned and operated fruit stand in Homestead, Florida. We specialize in rare & exotic fruits and vegetables, mostly grown right here on our farms. Although the location started off as a literal Fruit Stand located on the side of the road, it has grown into a complete tourist destination equipped with an Animal Farm, Splash Pad and picnic tables. We even have live music on the weekends and holidays. We are proud of being able to pack our store every weekend with amazing customers, and how far we’ve come as a whole. We have a milkshake shop which uses all of our produce along with fresh milk to make some of the best milkshakes in South Florida. We have a shipping operation that covers the whole continental US and we’re able to provide our produce in places that barely get Mangoes, and even then, what they can get is usually imported.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Honesty, integrity, and hard work.
Pricing:
- 16 oz. Milkshakes – $6.64 + tax ($7.10)
- Sugar Apples – $10.95 per pound
- Guanabana (Sour Sop) – $9.95 per pound
- Mangoes – $2.00 per pound
- Mamey Sapote – $3.95 per pound
Contact Info:
- Address: 19200 SW. 344th St.,
Homestead, FL 33034 - Website: www.RobertIsHere.com
- Phone: 305-246-1592
- Email: fresh@robertishere.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertisherefruitstandandfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Robert-Is-Here-Fruit-Stand-and-Farm-129611470421789/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertishere
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Bubba Humphries
October 24, 2017 at 12:21 am
When we lived in Key Largo and I was working at the Turkey Point Nuclear Station we used to stop at your stand a lot. And for all of my friends that travel to work at Turkey Point, I highly recommend the paying your store a visit. My wife still talks to this day about you telling her about the Kent Mangoes and that you could remember them by thinking about Superman!