This is episode 3 of the Local CEO Show, where we find and highlight local entrepreneurs that are doing big things.
In today's episode, we are highlighting a Microgreens business and interviewing @DonnyGreens. Donny Greens has scaled his own Microgreens business to over $150k per year and helped many others do the same.
We get into how to start a Microgreens business, how much time it takes to run one, how much money it can make, and more!
Resources mentioned in the video:
Donny's channel: @DonnyGreens
Learn How To Grow Microgreens: onetrayaway.com?affiliate_id=4120449
Seeds:
Trays (Black):
Need help scaling your own local business? ➡️
Was super fun to hang with you bro!!! Lets definitely hang out more!!! ??
100% man! Thanks for all the value ?
how saturated is this market? if it has such a low barrier to entry and high profit margins, why wouldn’t every farmer’s market already have a micro greens stand? furthermore, since one micro green is much the same as the next, how do you differentiate yourself? i wonder how much of your success is due to you catching this food trend on the way up and snagging market share when there was still plenty to be had? also, if you have a direct to consumer model, how much of your success is due to the prominence of your Youtube channel; i’m sure you convert a lot of customers that way too, right? in short, how has the market changed since you were first starting out and how might this temper your exuberance?
@N I have a connection to the market in Georgia. This market is very location specific. Communities that don’t have an interest in sustainable and healthy food do not buy this product. However, in the right location (affluent, health conscious neighborhoods and towns) this is a great business model because large producers dont grow it in large quantities, and what the big names can grow, is of lackluster quality. Those locations are more geared to local food anyways. So yeah it can be done, and the demand is there for several growers to be in the market at any given time, given the tight location.
You are a legend bro much appreciate the honesty
Most wholesome use I ever seen of a plant emoji lol
Great interview. I purchased Donny’s One Tray Away challeng. I’m now growing microgreens regularly for myself in my 128 sq RV trailer! I noticed cognitive improvment as I”m an old guy. Manufacturing farming is collapsing and the quality is poor. Local Gardens are the future, i.e. Urban Farming is the way to go. Taking Mr. Green’s lead and learning how to grow first and expanding into growing cherry tomattos as my next crop. I am also interested in growing lion’s mane mushrooms as my business takes off.
That’s awesome! Way to take action man
I hope I can still do the challenge….?
Very interested in lions mane too.
You seem sincere an legit, very cool. Yes, been on powdered microgreens an quality of health higher..lions mane is great for memory, look into methylene blue too. My mom had a tumor pre-Covid, we forced greens in, sugars out and all the above mentioned, tumor was no longer there.. Downfall, she went back to high sugar. Life is what we make of it, buy quality time and raise thy frequency. Cheers bud
“I’m a bit of a procrastinator here and there” is so relatable ? Gives me hope that I can do it, loved the video ?
You can definitely do it!
Yeah you’ll never get round to even attempting this…
Love what you are teaching people ?
Thanks!
I like the idea for that series. You could make it a tad more entertaining and structured for the viewer. Introduction, wrap up, chapters, some overlays (for the links and such) maybe show some of his process, like harvest or delivery. Nice video, nice dudes both of you. Good luck!
Thanks a lot max! Good feedback
Agreed. Over lay some of the interview points over b roll. Show the set up in more detail. Have them run through an entire grow cycle with you etc
The audio is too quiet too
Just ask ChatGPT for a summary.
agreed, i was looking for something more. like a recap, or even some clips of him cutting the greens, selling them etc..prices.
I’d say 20% effort into growing it, and 80% into selling it. Unless one is close to a big, well-populated city with a lot of demand for novelty/healthy food, I would not give up on my daytime job.
Exactly. Most microgreens growers are selling online couses and living from YT adds. 500 $ per rack ?
Yeah I have no idea how he can make $500 from one rack.. who is buying that?
@Elliott Huff one tray is $15-$20
No idea what micro greens normally cost but that’s maybe… Not unreasonable ?
Your not supposed to your supposed to add it to you work for more profit or advangaesn using the food! It would also save some money on groceries. Until you can make it passive.
@Gigi Lafonte i dont think so i bet its the other way around he makes money off his microgreens then scaled it into yt videos bc he saw it as another buisness opportunity as well as helpful for starter micro growers
Great interview! Love the local CEO concept
Appreciate it Gio!
If anybody is curious what this business would look like on a large scale, Koppert Cress is the leading company worldwide growing and selling microgreens. Their product development is pretty insane, they have about 20 trademarked microgreens already. It almost feels strange that they don’t mention this company, but it’s probably only because it’s not in the USA.
That’s awesome thanks for the info!
mmmm nothing better than trademarked foods -.- i’ll take homie’s small batch production anyday.
@Bob Too You obviously didn’t look into the company I linked. It’s like I showed you a Tesla and you started complaining about exhaust fumes.
Some of the most natural and healthy foods on the planet are trademarked, you seem to think it is only negative. You from the USA?
@E F it’s like we’re watching a small dairy farm talk about their special cheese and you come here and mention how Kraft has patents on 20 different powdered cheeses. Funny they didn’t bring up Kraft foods in the video.
@Don’t trick, I’m tricky. The fact that you think Koppert Cress would be like Kraft in your analogy shows me you don’t know what you’re talking about, probably just here for a confrontation. Also I mentioned trademarks and you are talking about patents, which are two completely different and unrelated entities; a natural food can have a trademark, a natural food cannot have a patent. Good luck to you.
Great video! your questions and format are super chill and well-thought-out, keep up the awesome video series
Thanks a lot man really appreciate it!
I first came across Donny when intervied on a channel growing your greens, in his early days, and have followed him ever since. Donny says it how it is, a great inspiration for people and for those wanting to get into microgreens you will know what to expect, and he is very helpful if you message him with a problem on the subject.
Yeah he’s a great guy!
I feel like everybody who grows micro greens also sells courses, for some reason anyone who has a small business and sells courses throws red flags for me.
I’ve never seen a a micro green video without a how to course they are selling too. I think that speaks volumes about the industry haha.
yeah pretty sad
People who don’t make enough money with their real business also sell courses. Means they LOSE MONEY on their real company.
Most folks who have Youtube channels have courses that relate to whatever they are doing. It’s a source of secondary income, which just bolsters the main income from the business. Having multiple streams of income flowing into your business is a good thing. It’s kind of like that saying, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.”
@Magpie Online Sadly that’s bullshit. Same with all the “Dropshipping Gurus” that sell courses. Why should you sell courses on how you exactly make money when this obviously damages your profit? If someone has a big social media presence and sells public courses on how he does it he is scamming people. Pretty easy
@Pascal Hanzo I mean, if you’re stupid enough to buy courses from a “Dropshipping Guru” with a video like a bad commercial, sure…lol
I think the difference between those courses and courses offered by microgreens businesses is that there’s value to be found in these. Not everybody has a green thumb or has a good understanding of how to grow greens. Some folks aren’t good at selling or don’t have a good marketing strategy. Others don’t have time to go to their local community college to get the same course for the same amount (or more) out of pocket. I think courses are completely up to the person and whether or not they have the time and disposable income to pay for a course. Some folks do. Others, like myself, don’t. So I don’t bother with the courses.
Join Donny’s Challenge here: onetrayaway.com?affiliate_id=4120449
This is a great series – really hope you keep generating this type of content.
Thanks a lot Stephan!
I love how this video has become the “breakaway” for your channel. A lot of potential, and I love the idea. Keep it up man! Subscribed
Thanks I really appreciate it!
Great video and great content but for improving the value of the content further I would suggest adding timestamps to the topics of the video. It would make it so much smoother to review certain topics or tips that I feel I didn’t understand or don’t remember well enough. Love the video and thank you for making it!
Thanks a lot for the feedback! Appreciate it
Just a tip, adding timestamps for each question can add a lot of quality to the video. Great video, btw.
The trick isn’t growing, it’s finding a consumer for your goods. If the city you live in is already saturated with growers, it’s going to be difficult to break in. Donny had the good luck of finding an opening in the market to exploit, if you don’t have the same hole in your local market, growing micro greens probably not as easy as Donny makes it seem like.
Agreed
Also how do you get a licence to be allowed to sell something like that?
quite cynical I think. We all have gaps in the market in our areas, there’s thousands of things to grow. The secret is hard work, doing your homework, finding those suppliers and actually puting thier ideas into practice with th skils and business protocols.
Great interview. Not too long. Informative, interesting. Spot on.
This interview was honestly very helpful! Bought my first gear today. I have an empty shelf/greenhouse in my room so I already have the perfect place for my first try. I’m extremely excited honestly. Bought Peas, Kale, radish, sunflower & arugula. I didn’t buy broccoli though – will do it after I try out these ones.
I’m on the journey of starting microgreens business in the UK. I originally wanted to do it 5 years ago. Gotta just start and make it happen.