But the heat brought problems. The cooling unit in the main packing shed died. That was $40,000. Then a conveyor belt shredded. Another $12,000. She had already spent the seasonal working capital. The money from Dante was gone—spent on labor, boxes, fuel, ice.
She signed. The money hit her account at 8:14 AM the next day. By noon, the pump was whirring. By dusk, the first seasonal crew from Oaxaca was setting up tents in the bunkhouse. seasonal working capital
"Start a reserve fund in the fall. Take the cash from your harvest and set aside 20% in a separate account. Don't touch it. Use it next spring instead of me. You'll lose the opportunity cost of that cash sitting idle for six months, but you'll gain control." But the heat brought problems
Elara had no choice. She factored another $80,000 in invoices. Her effective interest rate was now north of 25% annualized. But she wasn't thinking in annualized terms. She was thinking in hours. How many hours until the cherries rotted on the vine? Then a conveyor belt shredded