Microgreen farming is a business model that you can start with a very low budget. Even with a budget of $100, you can make a profit in a short time and harvest your products.
Another advantage of microgreen production is that it has short harvesting cycles. In this way, you save time and you can get to the harvest stage of your growth cycle quickly.
You can make a profit of around $1000 by producing 10-20 trays of microgreen per month from the production you started with $100.
Is Growing Microgreens A Viable Business Model?
Microgreen manufacturing is a profitable business model, but while this may be the case, some factors should be taken into account.
For example, the location where you want to sell your products, the number of restaurants around, your gardening skills and product quality are among these factors.
If there are many restaurants in your location, you will have a higher chance of selling your products.
Today, many local restaurants are looking for microgreens to enrich their menus. You must evaluate their demands correctly and dispose of the best product in the most profitable way. Another consideration is the quality of your produce and your gardening skills.
Profitability and Sustainability
Some microgreen producers want to save costs by harvesting more than once, but what they forget is that the seeds that grow for the second time develop immature fruits due to energy losses, which reduces the quality of production.
The quality of the products, especially the freshness, is one of the most important issues in Microgreen sales.
Because the companies you are competing with are national distributors, you should offer the freshest and quality product to your customers.
In order for your business to be sustainable, you must consider two main factors. One of these factors is profitability and the other is sustainability.
If you have a profit margin above your initial cost and your business is viable, this business is a profitable business model and a viable business.
What Are The Significant Factors That Can Make Or Break A Microgreens Business?
Location
Location is one of the most important issues you need to research before starting the microgreen business.
It is very important in which locations you will sell your products and from which locations you will reach potential customers.
In addition to this, you can also take your products to the markets. You should think carefully about what kind of market you wish to target and the costs of setting up stalls there.
Doing the necessary technical analysis before starting the microgreen business will help you get to the halfway to success.
The other half is where and how you want to grow the microgreens. It could be a greenhouse, a garden or a field.
First of all, you should decide on these factors and target your product accordingly, taking into consideration your stock levels and the purchasing power of the potential customers.
It is advised to calculate these factors in advance of planting your first harvest. In this way, you predict the future more precisely and set realistic goals that go step by step according to a solid business plan.
Time management
Even if your business is small, growing microgreens will definitely take some time. Operations such as tray plantings, irrigation and harvesting may take more of your time than you expect.
If you have a large business, the timing process will tire you more. You need to plan for production and do daily maintenance periodically at the same time.
In this way, you know in advance what you will do and when, and you adjust your schedule accordingly. It is advised to master the timing and selling of a small crop and expand gradually.
Does Growing Microgreens Require Special Skills?
You don’t need a lot of skill to start growing microgreens. You just need to know the basic planting techniques.
All you have to do is grow your microgreens in the right place and the right time and use quality ingredients that will encourage your microgreens to thrive.
After deciding what kind of microgreen you will grow, you need to provide the necessary environmental conditions.
You can grow your microgreens safely all year round, as long as it is not very cold or hot indoors. Microgreens love moisture and sunlight, so make sure they have plenty of access to these resources.
Harvesting & Maintenance
Fast harvesting cycles allow you to yield your crop in a short time. All that remains is to determine the locations to sell your products.
After choosing the microgreens you have decided to grow, the only thing you need to do is to create a suitable environment for your microgreens and tend to them. You can grow your microgreens indoors or outdoors as you wish.
How Do I Start Selling Microgreens?
Restaurants
Restaurants are the best places to sell your microgreens. Restaurant chefs add many types of microgreens to their kitchens each year to further expand their menus.
All you have to do is find the right restaurants and reach them. You can divide these restaurants into two types: Local and Luxury.
Local Restaurants
Local restaurants may be nearby restaurants in your neighbourhood. These restaurants can offer incredible tastes to their customers with their unique cuisines. You can reach these restaurants by phone or by simply walking through the door.
They will surely get back to you as local restaurants are usually interested in locally grown produce.
Luxury Restaurants
Another is luxury restaurants, these restaurants offer incredible meals to their customers with their wide menus and enchant them with different tastes.
You can grow your business by selling your microgreens to these restaurants and earn a regular income on a weekly or monthly basis.
You can do this by making a list of the best restaurants in town. You can then visit these restaurants during off-peak hours and give their chefs detailed information about your microgreens.
Sales in the market
The market is a very attractive shopping center because it attracts many consumers for a single purpose.
You can exhibit your products first hand in these markets and present them to the consumer.
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
