In 2017, Steven and I started jPure Farms with one goal: to grow the most profitable microgreens we could find. The numbers taught us something the seed catalogs never mention. Radish and sunflower led on profit, but not for the reason most growers assume. Here is what actually drives the money, variety by variety.
Do you need a license to sell microgreens? In most places, yes, and it is a small stack of permits, not one card. Here is exactly what you need, in what order, plus the FSMA food safety changes and what to do if zoning says no.
Microgreens are some of the most nutrient-dense food on the planet, and most home growers eat them happily for years without a single problem. But about once a month, someone like my neighbor Marty asks me a worried question after reading something online. "Are these things actually safe?" Yes, with three specific exceptions worth knowing about.
I track food safety events in microgreens because growers deserve more than headlines. When four Canadian brands were caught in a microgreens recall inside of nine days in May 2026, I traced the event back to its source. What I found is less about any individual operation and more about a gap that most microgreens growers share.
New research from Colorado State University identifies which farmers market to sell at for specialty crop vendors. Urban, year-round, and producers-only markets consistently outperform seasonal and rural alternatives.
Wednesday morning. A text lands on your phone from Chef Marco at Rosario's: "Just confirming Friday delivery. Same order as last week?" You pull up the spreadsheet, and the recurring orders tab hasn't been touched since Monday. One variety missed the sow window. The trays are empty. The harvest won't make Friday. This review asks the question every commercial grower eventually faces: Does the microgreens software built on a GAP-certified commercial farm actually hold up when that farm depends on it?
Basil microgreens contain measurable concentrations of vitamins C, K, and E, plus calcium, iron, and anti-inflammatory compounds including eugenol and linalool. Here is what the USDA nutrition data shows and what the research says about their health benefits.
Most microgreens businesses fail within their first year. Not from bad growing. From starting with trays before confirming buyers. Here is the sequence that works, and what to do in the first 90 days.
Ancient compounds in certain microgreens may quietly interrupt the inflammation switch driving heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's—but not all varieties work equally.
Mustard microgreens hit 215% of your daily Vitamin K requirement in 100g. That heat you taste is allyl isothiocyanate, the same compound researchers study for anti-inflammatory properties. USDA data, variety comparisons, and growing basics all here.
Nine research firms project the global microgreens market will reach $5 to $6 billion by 2032. Their numbers vary by up to 4 times. Approximately 50% of new microgreens businesses fail in their first year. Here is what the data actually says and what it means at street level.
Eight microgreens growing kits tested and ranked for 2026. Prices run from $6.99 to $149. Every kit on this list grows harvest-ready microgreens in 7 to 15 days. Find the right one for your home, budget, and experience level.
Scientists have identified over 1,500 plant species that can be grown as microgreens. Most seed catalogs show you 15 to 20. Here is the full list, sorted by what is commercially proven, what is worth experimenting with, and what to avoid entirely.
Red cabbage microgreens contain 40 times more vitamin E than mature red cabbage. Radish microgreens show nearly 7 times more vitamin C. But pea shoots only beat mature peas by 1.5x. Here is what the research actually shows, variety by variety.
Explore the world of microgreens to uncover the surprising benefits and potential drawbacks, the pros and cons, that may change the way you see these tiny greens.
When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Control your personal Cookie Services here.
