Diego Footer

Growing Microgreens Podcast

Science EN ↓ 30 episodes

Diego Footer and grower Chris Thoreau share 10+ years of microgreens experience in each episode, giving insights for people who operate or want to operate a profitable microgreens business. We touch on topics such as farming challenges and struggles, sales and marketing, soil and media, climate control, sanitation, post-harvest processing, appropriate technology, farm startup, market selection, and work-life balance. In some episodes, we are joined by beginning or experienced microgreen growers who dive deep into their stories to find out what makes their operations successful. The show is hos...

Author

Diego Footer

Episodes

Advice for Selling Microgreens at Farmers' Markets, Restaurants, and Stores 14.09.2019 55:06

When you think about what your selling, don't forget that what you are selling isn't just what's in the cooler behind your booth. You're selling yourself, your story, and the role that you play in a bigger movement; all intangible assets that can allow you to succeed without having a diversity of products. But if you want to grow, and you don't have more products to sell to customers, then you nee...

The Tedious, Detail Oriented Reality of Growing Microgreens 14.09.2019 54:35

Given the relatively low capital investment required to start a microgreens business, it's a business that attracts a lot of people. When over 60% of your time will be spent harvesting, cleaning, and sanitizing trays, some of the allure of that $50 tray goes away. Add in the need for rigorous observations and recording keeping, and you will find yourself in a position that Chris describes as par...

Tips and Tricks for Growing, Harvesting, and Selling Microgreens 14.09.2019 1:00:21

"They weren't just buying the product, they were buying the whole package." That's how Chris Thoreau was able to go to a farmer's market selling one crop. Just one. Sunflower shoots. He was able to go to market with just one crop because he was selling a product that had a great story. There's a lot in this one and at its core this interview focuses heavily on core success principles - relent...

10 Base Principles For Successfully Growing High Quality Microgreens 14.09.2019 1:09:41

Microgreen Farmer Chris Thoreau and I discuss 10 base principles for growing high quality microgreens. Think 10 things that are critical to growing a good crop regardless of where you are growing them, when you are growing them or how you are growing them. These base principles help ensure that you get a successful crop that is free of disease and of high quality. It's not enough just to go throug...

How Chris Thoreau Started a $200,000 Microgreens Business 14.09.2019 48:05

Today we are going to start the series, by going back to the beginning. This is the story of how urban farmer Chris Thoreau started his microgreens farm almost 10 years ago. Chris will take on questions such as: Why microgreens? How much did he start with? And how did he handle startup and work life balance. Chris made a go of it taking on early challenges he has managed to grow his farm to eve...