News / New Year

As we step into the New Year, entrepreneurs and leaders in the microgreens business face the familiar buzz of setting goals and ambitions. Yet, amidst this excitement, it's easy to encounter the daunting feeling of overwhelm. The key to thriving in 2024 isn't just about setting lofty goals; it's about mastering the art of overcoming overwhelm. This is especially relevant for commercial microgreens producers, where the blend of agricultural precision and business acumen demands a unique balance.

1. Simplify and Prioritize

Action Step: Implement the 'Top Three' Rule

Start each day by identifying the top three tasks that will make the most significant impact on your business. These should be tasks that align closely with your long-term goals. For a microgreens entrepreneur, this might mean focusing on one key area of production improvement, a marketing strategy, or a client relationship. By narrowing your focus, you reduce the clutter and noise that often lead to overwhelm.

2. Embrace Automation and Delegation

Action Step: Identify Automation Opportunities

In the world of microgreens, time is of the essence. Look for areas in your business where automation can save time and reduce stress. This could be automating irrigation systems, using software for inventory management, or digitalizing customer orders. Delegating tasks to team members, or even outsourcing specific roles, can also help manage workload efficiently.

3. Foster a Mindset of Growth and Learning

Action Step: Dedicate Time for Skill Enhancement

Allocate a fixed amount of time each week to learn something new related to your business. This could be a new farming technique, a trend in sustainable agriculture, or advancements in hydroponic systems. By consistently learning, you not only enhance your skill set but also maintain a growth mindset, which is crucial for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Staying Motivated

Remember, the journey of a microgreens entrepreneur is as much about nurturing your crops as it is about nurturing your own entrepreneurial spirit. Overwhelm is not a sign of failure; it's a natural part of the growth process. Embrace it with a strategic approach, and let it be the catalyst for innovation and efficiency in your business.

As we embrace 2024, let's not just chase after goals and ambitions. Let's redefine our approach to these aspirations, making them more attainable and less overwhelming. Remember, in the world of microgreens, just as in business, the most beautiful growth often comes from the smallest of seeds.

Growing your microgreen business in an economically challenging year requires strategic insight and a proactive approach. 2024 is beginning to look promising and if you're in the microgreens business, you're already AHEAD of the hickey stick growth we're expecting as inflation continues to recede. Here's some tips for commercial microgreen growers to thrive against what seems to be the odds:

1. Leverage Subtle Economic Indicators

a. Waste Analysis as a Business Barometer

• Strategy: Pay attention to the amount of waste people leave at the curb, as it indicates consumer spending habits. An increase in waste signals a rise in consumer spending on soft and hard goods, which can benefit microgreen sales.

b. Capitalizing on Federal Reserve Policies

• Observation: Lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve often results in increased investment and consumer spending.

• Action: Stay informed about these changes. Lower interest rates can lead to more restaurant openings in a 12-month span and increased spending on profitable food items like microgreens.

2. Understanding the Stock Market Dynamics

• Insight: Despite pessimistic media coverage, the stock market's growth can indicate an overall economic improvement and right now, in December 2023, our market is setting new records every day!

• Application: Use this knowledge to forecast potential growth in the hospitality and food service industries, which are primary markets for microgreens.

3. Cultivating a Growth Mindset

• Mindset: Maintain a positive outlook on your business's potential because there's a lot of money to be made. Even in tough times, niche markets like microgreens can flourish.

• Approach: Innovate and adapt. Explore new varieties or growing techniques that could set your product apart.

4. Engaging with Customers and Suppliers

• Customer Feedback: Regularly talk to your clients, especially those in the restaurant and food service industries, to gauge their business outlook.

• Supplier Relations: Strengthen relationships with your suppliers. Good relations can lead to better deals or insights into market trends over time.

5. Seasonal Planning and Market Assessment

• Timing: Understand the seasonal nature of your business. December might see a spike in demand, followed by a drop in January.

• Market Research: Use quieter periods for market research and planning your next moves so you can effectively control expectations around cash flow, sales, and expenses.

6. Expanding Marketing and Distribution Channels

• Marketing: Increase your online presence and explore direct-to-consumer sales channels.

• Distribution: Look into expanding your distribution network, perhaps targeting areas that are showing economic resilience.

7. Innovating and Diversifying

• Product Innovation: Experiment with new microgreen varieties or packaging to attract a broader customer base.

• Diversification: Consider diversifying into related areas, like edible flowers or specialty herbs, to mitigate risk.

 

For commercial microgreen growers, the key to thriving in uncertain economic times lies in staying informed, being adaptable, and maintaining a positive, growth-focused mindset. Utilize subtle economic indicators to anticipate market trends and adjust your business strategy accordingly. There is potential for growth in every market condition, and with a strategic approach, your microgreen business can not only survive but flourish.

As the last leaves of December flutter to the ground, marking the end of 2023, it's not uncommon to find ourselves in a reflective mood, particularly among our diligent community of commercial microgreen producers across the United States. You, the cultivators of these tiny but mighty greens, might feel a tad overwhelmed, thinking about the goals that remained just out of reach this year. But let's sprinkle a bit of perspective onto this thought salad.

Firstly, let's acknowledge that feeling like you haven't achieved enough is as common as finding a kale microgreen in a hipster's sandwich – it's practically a given. But here’s the twist: it’s not a sign of failure; it’s a sign of ambition. And ambition, my friends, is a renewable resource.

Now, let's turn over a new leaf and shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. Think of your achievements and experiences in 2023 not as finite resources, like the last seeds in a packet, but as a rich, compostable substrate from which new growth can emerge.

Remember, every tiny microgreen starts with a single seed and a bit of care. Similarly, your plans for 2024 need not be grandiose to be meaningful. They just need to start. Today. Right now. Even if it's as simple as jotting down a few ideas on a napkin while sipping your morning coffee (or a green smoothie, for that matter).

Consider this: Every big harvest began as a plan, and every plan begins with a thought. If you think it’s too late to start planning for 2024, remember that microgreens go from seed to salad in just a couple of weeks. You, too, can start small and grow rapidly.

In conclusion, let’s approach the upcoming year like a tray of freshly sown microgreens – with the expectation of growth, the willingness to adapt, and the knowledge that, with a little care and attention, we can achieve a bountiful harvest. Here’s to growing our dreams, one tiny, mighty step at a time. Remember, in the world of microgreens, and life, great things often come in small packages. Let's make 2024 a year of abundant growth and plentiful harvests!