Microgreens and Shoots
How to Select, Grow, Harvest, and Package Nutrient-Dense Greens for Profit
Microgreens and Shoots
How to Select, Grow, Harvest, and Package Nutrient-Dense Greens for Profit
The first complete guide to planting, growing, harvesting, packing and selling microgreens for the market farmer
A transplant to New York’s farming scene from California, Corinne Hansch got her feet off the ground and into New York’s farmer’s market scene by cultivating high-quality microgreens—a cornerstone of her operation to this day. Along the way, she was surprised at the absence of books on microgreens written specifically for market farmers.
Microgreens and Shoots will fill that gap, offering a guide for both established farmers and those who are just starting out. Corinne explains how microgreens can be a viable option for establishing instant cash flow due to their low overhead and the fact that you don’t need to break ground to grow them.
The book also covers:
- The nutritional and culinary appeal of microgreens
- Growing spaces for outdoor and indoor cultivation
- Seed selection
- Trays and growing mediums
- Planting methods
- Pest and disease control
- Harvesting and packing
- Branding and marketing
- Record-keeping on the farm
Corinne also profiles the 15 most profitable microgreens in her operation.
Reviews & Praise
“In a business as poky as farming, where most crops take months to grow into something sellable, microgreens and shoots can provide a path for farms to start, stabilize, and profit quickly. In Microgreens and Shoots, farmer Corinne Hansch not only details how these crops have worked to build her own farm business but guides you through the steps and strategies to make them work for you.
I love all the individual crop breakdowns and the focus on growing mediums. The interviews demonstrate the many different ways in which these crops can be grown. This book, however, really shines in its presentation of the nerdy details. From marketing and packaging to rodent protection and recordkeeping, Microgreens and Shoots opens the door to a dependable (and delicious) revenue source for small farms.
Corinne really has created THE manual for growing microgreens and shoots professionally.”—Jesse Frost, author of The Living Soil Handbook
“This is the book we’ve been waiting for. Covering everything from how to fund microgreens infrastructure to whether to plant seed mixes or single varieties, what medium to grow them in, where to grow them, and how to package them, Corinne lays it all out for us. Microgreens have transformed from a niche product into a CSA and farmers market staple. They have become an important crop for market farms given their quick turnaround, high price per pound, and popularity with customers. And now the information has finally caught up. This book weighs the pros and cons of all the important decisions about microgreens production, and it will show you how to plan and get the most out of your microgreens.”—Andrew Mefferd, editor and publisher, Growing for Market magazine
“As a market gardener, I know the value of crops that can be grown quickly, efficiently, and profitably from a small footprint. Corinne has created the resource I wish every grower had when starting out with microgreens and shoots. Practical, clear, and grounded in real-world experience, this book brings together everything you need to know in one place. Whether you’re looking to expand your year-round salad offering, increase productivity, or improve cashflow, Microgreens and Shoots is a generous gift to small-scale growers everywhere.”—Jodi Roebuck, Roebuck Farm, New Zealand
“I met Corinne at a New Hampshire farming conference, where her presentation on how to grow microgreens was a weekend highlight. She impressed me with her professionalism and the realism she brings to her technical expertise. Her book is no different: Finally, a guide to
growing microgreens on a commercial farm. Corinne guides you through a realistic setup (on a realistic budget) and shows you how to handle inevitable challenges. I wish all farming guides were written like hers. From a real farm to yours. Adopt this guide with confidence!”—Catherine Sylvestre, coauthor of The Winter Market Gardener; owner, Ferme Décembre