Microgreens Podcasts

Diego Footer and grower Chris Thoreau share 10+ years of microgreens experience in each episode of this microgreens podcast, 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 hosted by Diego Footer of Modern Grower.

Check out Modern Grower products here.

Learn more about Diego Footer here.

How I Started a $200,000/year Microgreens business

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 back in 2009.

10 Principles for Growing High-Quality Microgreens

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.

Tips and Tricks for Growing, Harvesting, and Selling Microgreens

“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.

The Tedious Detail-Oriented Reality of Growing Microgreens

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 part automaton and part scientist.

Advice for Selling Your Microgreens

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 need to find more customers, and that likely means diversifying beyond the farmers market.

The Economics, The “How”, and The “Why” of New Crops

If customers keep asking if you have certain crop, and you don’t, should you grow it? It depends. And that’s the focus of today’s show: When, How, and Why to Start Producing A New Microgreen Crop.

How to Grow Microgreens Year Round

When you are only growing a ten-day crop, how much of an affect does light quality and temperature have on the crop? A lot. Chris is in Vancouver where he sees day lengths change from 8 hours at the winter solstice to 16 hours at the summer solstice; a large change which affects how much light crops get to grow. Less light in winter means slower or no crop growth. If you are a farmer, you get this. It makes sense, at least for field crops. But what about microgreens? 

The Many Reasons Why Microgreens Might Not be a Fit for You!

Microgreen Grower Chris Thoreau and I discuss a variety of reasons why microgreens might not be a fit for you. This is a realistic look at what growing microgreens as a business is really like.  From quick turn around times week after week to attention to detail to scalability to the day to day drudgery – they aren’t a perfect business, yet nothing is.

This is one of our favourite microgreens podcasts!

The Benefits and Advantages of a Co-op Business Structure

When you start your farm business, one think that you need to think about is your business structure.

Sole proprietorships and LLCs are common ways to go, but there are also other options, like co-operatives…

That’s how farmer Chris Thoreau of Food Pedalers structure his business, and that’s the subject of today’s show…

Today I’m going up to Vancouver to talk to microgreen farmer Chris Thoreau about a topic that you don’t hear discussed a lot in small scale farming circles – how he organized his business..

Common Microgreens Diseases and Solutions to Them

Molds, fungus, viruses – oh my! Depending on your growing environment you may encounter one or perhaps even all of these diseases. And what do you do once you encounter them?

If there’s a small section of mold on your tray, for example, what do you do with that tray? Do you scrap the whole tray or can you harvest the unaffected part? We ask these questions with long-time grower and microgreen expert Chris Thoreau.

Can You Make a Living Growing Microgreens?

In this episode Chris Thoreau joins me to explore the idea – Can you actually make a living growing microgreens?  Is it actually possible or just an unrealistic dream?

If it is possible what does that look like? How big does the business need to be?  How much do you need to be selling?  Would you need employees?

TLDR: It is possible, with the right combination of luck, skills and hard work. Some people will find it’s a fit for them and their lifestyle, but they’ll need to be committed.

Tips and Advice for Selling to Grocers with Vincent Cuneo

Vincent Cuneo talks about what has made him successful selling microgreens to small independent grocery stores.  He discusses giving samples, shelf placement, packaging, and credit for unsold product.  Then Chris Thoreau joins the conversation to troubleshoot some growing issues Vincent is having.

One of our favourite interview microgreens podcasts.

The Ten-Year Evolution of a Microgreens Farmer and Business

Chris Thoreau has grow microgreens for over 10 years, but he recently reached the point where he Chris realized it was time to do something else and move on.  Find out what changed and why Chris is changing with it.

Growing Great Microgreens Starts with Great Soil

Microgreen grower Chris Thoreau joins me to talk about the importance of soil in growing microgreens.