In the world of microgreens, we’re realizing that petite radishes, itty-bitty broccoli and teensy amaranth are no small potatoes when it comes to nutrients. In fact, some of these greens are nutritional behemoths next to their full-sized relatives.
Now, Ryan and Sam Archer, an ambitious husband-and-wife team in Moorhead, want to harvest success with the miniature crops they’re producing from a 10- by 10-foot grow tent located in their basement. Their new business, Archer Greens, uses vertical garden concepts to raise ultra-healthful, ultra-tasty microgreens such as tiny broccoli microgreens, radish microgreens and a salad mix of teensy kale, arugula, kohlrabi and broccoli.
“We’ve always been interested in locally sourced produce and farm-to-table concepts, but we saw an opportunity with a crop we don’t see a lot of people growing in the F-M area,” says Sam from one of their favorite hangouts, Twenty Below Coffee, just across the street from the Concordia College campus in Moorhead.
One of only several microgreen growers in the area, they first started discussing the venture as recently as April. It seemed like a natural fit for this couple, who share many of the same entrepreneurial interests and goals. Ryan is writing his thesis to complete his master's degree in plant sciences at North Dakota State University; Sam is pursuing her doctorate in communications at NDSU. When they aren't doing research or teaching, they work together photographing and videotaping weddings under their business name, Images by Archer.
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