Food prices have been dropping for a couple of decades. These days they are barely covering the costs of a farming business. Microgreens in particular are an exception to this paradigm. If you grow smart, these little shoots can help create a very profitable operation.
Smart Farmers elaborates on how growing microgreens can be profitable.
Microgreens sell at high prices to specific niches: chefs, foodies or just people who pursue a healthy lifestyle because their exceptionally high nutrient density attracts customers who choose a healthy lifestyle. They contain higher vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant levels than mature vegetables. In fact, research comparing microgreens to their mature counterparts report that nutrient levels can be up to 40x higher.
Besides, the flavor of microgreens is so intense that chefs and foodies go nuts over these babies. In addition, they are perfect to use as plate decorations and come in many different varieties. If you decide to only grow microgreens, you’ll still be able to offer a wide variety of products. There are at least 25 types that are commercially popular, and the market still allows for more exploration.
A big advantage for growers is that they can provide up to 35 harvests per year. Depending on the variety, microgreens only need 1 to 2 weeks to grow. Even if for some reason, something goes wrong with a batch, you won’t miss out on an entire seasonal income.
And these many harvests can be grown wherever you like. With the right vertical farming technology, you don’t need a lot of space to grow microgreens. This allows you to grow close to the consumer, contributing to a higher profit margin.
Finally, the biggest advantage of controlled environment agriculture is that growers are no more dependant on seasons. This provides you with a sustainable, reliable income.
For more information:
Smart farmers
www.smartfarmers.eu