When I first heard about selling microgreens, I was truly intrigued, but also uncertain. I am one of those people that believes if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Around the time I began looking into starting a micro-greens business, I was growing tired of my job because it wasn’t exactly a nine-to-five occupation.
If you know anything about my story, you know I was working as an ecological field restoration worker. Basically, I spent all of my time spraying tons of caustic herbicides on invasive plants. The work was back-breaking and wasn’t very rewarding and I missed time with my family.
I started my business to make a little extra cash on the side, thinking it would take away some of the stress our bills had created. Little did I know, this would become a career for me. Now, I am here hoping to help you start out on your own amazing journey.
With this information, you will learn how to sell microgreens whether you want to simply earn a little extra spending money or if you want to dive full-in and eventually make it your full-time career. So, without further ado, let’s give you the information you need to get started.
Learn About Selling Microgreens
You are probably thinking like me when I first learned about selling microgreens. I honestly thought the process would be difficult, expensive and basically a waste of time. I was desperate to find something that would allow me to be at home more with my family. I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did.
When I saw people, who were becoming successful and making over $1,000 a week selling microgreens, I decided I had to give it a try. I figured the worst that could happen would be my family would be stuck eating all the microgreens I didn’t sell for a week or so and then I would pack it all away and give up. Needless to say, my microgreens sales did not skyrocket my first try. I didn’t have a mentor for help and had to do all my own research, so there was definitely a learning curve involved.
What really amazed me was what little time it took. Most methods of making money are not easy and they require a lot of work. I found I could spend a few hours a week working on my microgreens and then sell them for a high profit. In just two weeks, I was beginning to make a profit and you can too
When I tell people they can grow microgreens and sell them for as much as $50 a pound, the looks on their faces are priceless. There are microgreen growers right now who make upwards of $200,000 a year and love the freedom this business offers.
There are two main points to remember when selling microgreens: Get to know all the chefs in your area and make sure you join a farmer’s market
When you first start out, you need to be a little intrusive, but never rude. Visit restaurants and talk with chefs in your area. Allow them to try samples and give you honest feedback about your microgreens product.
If you can get one or two chefs to commit to purchasing $50 a week in microgreens, that is an extra $100 to $200 in your pocket every month.
Important Points on Selling Microgreens
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- Get to know the chefs in your area and form relationships with them.
- Learn to properly manage your crops, so you have a fresh supply of microgreens each week.
- Avoid setting your prices too low. Start on the higher end and see how customers respond.
- Set weekly goals and work toward increasing the money you make for each microgreen sale.
How to Sell Microgreens
After you have learned to grow a healthy crop of microgreens within two weeks, you are ready for the big step of learning about selling micro greens. This was the toughest part for me, but I challenged myself and would not give up, even when chefs refused to talk to me or weren’t interested in making a purchase.
I am going to reveal my biggest hints for selling to chefs in the restaurants in your area. This is what has been working for me and is the method I use to increase my sales and retain new customers.
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- You have got to grow the best microgreens you possibly can. Chefs are looking for greens with bigger leaves and lots of colors because they want volume on the plate and want to appeal to the palate with vivid colors. My biggest seller is red radish because of its leaves and beautiful colors. Chefs seem to love them!
- When you visit chefs, make sure you give them plenty of samples and your business card. Let them try out your greens on their customers. Ask them to give you feedback on how long the greens last, what the kitchen staff thinks, and what the customers are saying. Wait a week and come back in person to finalize the sale.
- The best sales agreement is cash on delivery. You have them set up the time and the amount. You deliver the precise amount at the precise time. They pay you the cash. It is that simple!
Never hand your samples to anyone other than the chef. Be sure the chef gets your business card and make sure you set up a day and time where you will touch base and get feedback.
In addition to selling to chefs (which will likely be your biggest source of income), make sure to sign up for your local farmer’s market. You will likely find selling by volume is preferable for your farmer’s market customers. Remember, you can gauge your prices by how many people walk away. If you do not have a couple of people turn away out of every 10, your prices are too low.
What You Should Know About Microgreens
Microgreens are rising in popularity and are used in a variety of styles of cooking, often as a garnish or a zesty additive to improve the flavor. Some varieties are more popular than others and they include the following:
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- Radish
- Alfalfa
- Beet
- Buckwheat
- Kale
- Collards
- Kohlrabi
- Pea
- Swiss Chard
As I always tell my students, pick one microgreen that is easy to grow and stick with it at first. Radishes are a great start because they are easy to grow and sell. Once you get your first few crops under your belt, you can then start growing other microgreens and see which ones allow you to get the most bang for your buck.
Microgreens are super easy to grow and it is so satisfying seeing those little shoots begin to form right before your eyes. Once you get your routine down, you will find microgreen growing to be one of the easiest jobs you have ever had.
What You Should Know About Growing Microgreens
As an expert on growing microgreens, I can look back and remember how clueless I felt when I started purchasing supplies. I didn’t even tell many people about my new venture because I was afraid they would laugh and think I was crazy.
There are three main things microgreens must have to grow:
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- Healthy seed
- Adequate moisture
- Good lighting
Sounds simple enough, right? Believe me, when I started growing microgreens, I did not have a green thumb. If I can grow a healthy crop that sells for a big profit, anybody can. There are some purchases you will need to get started and they are not overly expensive.
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- Growing trays
- A small space
- Organic potting soil
- Seed
- Mister for watering
- Grow light
The growing process is not difficult, and you won’t find yourself “micromanaging” your crop. Pun intended! The truth is, I spend just a few hours a week with planting, watering and harvesting. The rest of my time is spent working with my customers. Once you get a few customers, the process will become streamlined and you will find it takes very little time.
These are the steps you will need to take for growing microgreens.
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- Pour an even layer of pre-moistened potting soil into your growing trays. The depth should be 1 to 2 inches.
- Evenly scatter the seed over the entire surface of the soil. Try to sow as evenly as you can and remember you will be sowing much more seed than you would if you were growing your vegetables to maturity.
- Cover your seeds with a thin layer of moistened potting soil. Keep the layer fairly thin. There should only be enough soil to hide the seeds.
- Lightly mist the surface of the soil with water. You will need to mist one to two times a day until you harvest.
- You should begin to see sprouts within three to seven days, depending on the type of seed you planted.
- You will be able to harvest in about two to three weeks, depending on the microgreen.
- To harvest, simply use a pair of sharp scissors and cut right above the soil line, being careful not to bruise your crop.
- Rinse your crop under water, dry with paper towels, and bag them or put in containers.
How to Become a Microgreens Farmer
When someone sells microgreens, they are able to venture out and create their own income with very little startup cost and space. Just a few trays of greens can get you started and you can increase your crop volume as you learn.
What I love about being a microgreens farmer, is I can grow my crops just about anywhere, even in the corner of my bedroom. You do not need a plot of land, vast amounts of space, or even access to natural sunlight. There are people growing microgreens in their basements!
If you want to become a successful microgreens farmer, you must learn all you can about the growing process, what seeds grow best, and what your customers are willing to purchase and pay.
I am here to help you discover the ease of growing microgreens and I want you to learn from my mistakes and my success. I have created a FREE Quick Start Guide that gives you all the information you need to get started. I even tell you what seeds to purchase and how to get the best deals on your supplies.
Free Webinar Classes
I also invite you to attend my regular free webinar classes. I love teaching people how to grow microgreens to make extra cash or a steady income. My exclusive training sessions are free and allow you to ask questions and gain information that will help you become successful. In my classes, you will learn:
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- How you can grow microgreens and be ready for the selling process in about two weeks
- How to get your first sale with less than $50 in expenses
- How you can start your microgreens business without quitting your job
There are too many covered topics to list, so I invite you to register today for free. Once you register, you will receive instant access to my Quick Start Guide which gives you my best hints and secrets, so you can be successful at microgreen farming.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by attending one of my online classes and learning from me directly. I can help you become a success. Whether you choose to start your business for extra cash or you want to make it a full-time job, the information I provide you is essential. You just need to be committed to learning and ready to start the process. It won’t happen overnight, but it can happen in a very short amount of time.
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