"Elara? It's Peter from FoodHub. I'm sorry to tell you this, but we're restructuring. Our payment terms are moving from 45 days to 90 days, effective immediately. For next spring's crop."

Then the call came.

The money came. The cooling unit hummed. The cherries were saved.

"They pay in 45 days. You need cash in 15 days to pay your pickers and your pump repair guy." He tapped the paper. "I buy your invoices at 92 cents on the dollar. You get $138,000 by tomorrow morning. When FoodHub pays me in July, you get the remaining 8% back, minus my 3% fee."