(Bridgewater, Iowa) – The hail storm that passed through Cass and area Counties Tuesday evening stripped trees of leaves and decimated an Adair County organic vegetable farm. Bridgewater Farm is the largest organic vegetable farm in Iowa. It has 25 acres of vegetables. Owner Dale Raasch reports almost all of his outdoor produce was lost during an approximately 10-minute burst of hail and heavy rain.

The hail, whipped by approximately 80 mph winds caused damage that was estimated at $150,000.  Raasch said he did not have insurance on the specialty farm. He estimates the losses from strawberries alone to be $32,000. On the Bridgewater Farms Facebook page, Dale Raasch said “We have received donated transplants to replant, some have offered to volunteer their time and energy and the amazing monetary donations that will help mitigate the losses of all the seed costs, labor and infrastructure, not to mention the potential profits lost. Thank you all for giving us hope.”

Lettuce

Beets

Garlic

In addition, a Go Fund Me page has been established, that (as of early Friday morning), had raised more than $88-hundred dollars. Replacement plants are on their way to the farm, and new seeding has begun. (Photos from the BF Facebook page show some of the many different vegetables that were lost to the storm)