How to Sell Microgreens (Without Farmers Markets) | Free Mini Course

If you are thinking about starting a microgreens business but are not sure how to actually sell what you grow, you are not alone.

A lot of growers spend most of their time learning how to grow better crops, but sales is what turns microgreens into a real business.

In this post, I am breaking down three simple and proven ways to start selling microgreens based on real world experience selling to multiple customer types, from direct customers to restaurants and grocery stores. You will also learn what to avoid, what to prioritize first, and how to build a sales system that is easier to scale.

Let’s dig in.

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Why Farmers Markets Are Not the Best Place to Start

Farmers markets can help with exposure, but they come with real downsides if your goal is a profitable and scalable microgreens business.

Common issues with farmers markets

❌ Short selling window

❌ Unpredictable foot traffic

❌ Weather can hurt sales

❌ Extra costs for tents, tables, coolers, and signs

❌ Setup, teardown, and travel can take most of your day

❌ Harder to scale long term

If your goal is flexibility, better use of time, and repeat customers, the next three channels are often a better starting point.

The Best 3 Ways to Sell Microgreens

1. Direct to Consumer (Best for Beginners)

This is one of the most beginner friendly ways to start because you control pricing, branding, and the customer experience.

What to offer

Keep it simple with a weekly subscription and 4 to 5 crop options such as:

✅ Pea shoots

✅ Radish

✅ Arugula

✅ Broccoli

✅ Sunflower

✅ Microgreens mix

How to increase order size

Offer simple incentives such as:

✅ Free local delivery for larger orders

✅ Small discount when customers order more clamshells

✅ Bonus recipe book

✅ Seasonal blends

✅ Discount for multi month signups

How to get your first direct customers

Start with an online store using a simple platform like Wix (or use the professionally designed AutoPilot website included with The Microgreens Business Blueprint).

Then promote in local Facebook groups focused on health and wellness, plus communities built around diets and activities such as keto, paleo, vegetarian, yoga, and pilates.

A strong strategy is to offer free samples in exchange for contact info and focus on building your email list. Not everyone buys right away, but a growing list makes future sales much easier.

Direct to consumer sales tips

✅ Focus on collecting leads, not just one time sales

✅ Test different photos, captions, and offers

✅ Start with one delivery day per week

✅ Offer free delivery in a small local radius first

✅ Add a second delivery day only after demand grows

2. Restaurants (High Value Repeat Customers)

Restaurants can be a very strong sales channel because chefs value flavor, texture, presentation, and consistency.

Crops chefs often like

✅ Basil

✅ Cilantro

✅ Amaranth

✅ Pea shoots

✅ Microgreens mixes

Packaging tip for restaurants

Use the clamshell size that is most common in your local market so chefs can compare pricing easily.

If your area uses 4 ounce clamshells, use that. If they use 100 gram or 2 ounce packs, match that standard.

How to get restaurant customers

A simple starting goal is to visit 4 to 5 higher end restaurants per week with:

✅ A few clamshell samples

✅ A price list

✅ A short introduction

Do not focus only on pitching. Focus on gathering information.

Smart questions to ask chefs

✅ Do you currently use microgreens?

✅ Which varieties do you use most?

✅ Is there anything your current supplier could do better?

✅ Is shelf life consistent?

✅ Are there varieties you wish you could get?

This helps you spot gaps in the market and build a stronger offer.

If a chef says their supplier is inconsistent, product quality varies, or shelf life is poor, that is your opportunity to position your farm as the better option.

Restaurant follow up strategy

Before leaving, try to get:

✅ Business card

✅ Phone number

✅ Email address

Then follow up in 1 to 2 weeks.

Chefs are busy, so reliability and ease matter a lot. If you bring a high quality product and are easy to work with, you can become a long term supplier.

3. Grocery Stores (Harder to Win, Easier to Keep)

Grocery stores can feel intimidating at first, but smaller independent stores and natural food shops are often very reachable.

They can also become some of the most consistent customers once you get in.

Good crops for grocery stores

✅ Broccoli

✅ Microgreens mixes

✅ Pea shoots

✅ Basil

✅ Cilantro

✅ Arugula

Packaging matters more in grocery

Use clear clamshells with professional labels that include:

✅ Farm name

✅ Best before date

✅ Product name

✅ Weight

✅ Ingredient list for mixes

Who to talk to

Your goal is usually to speak with:

✅ Produce manager

✅ Purchaser or buyer

Bring samples so they can see product quality, taste it, and evaluate shelf life.

Smart grocery store questions

✅ Which microgreens sell best here?

✅ Are customers asking for varieties you do not carry?

✅ How is the shelf life from your current supplier?

✅ What would make it easier for you to bring in a new supplier?

Leave samples, your brochure, and your price list. Then follow up by phone in 1 to 2 weeks.

A simple first time promo can also make the first order easier to approve.

Sales Tips That Work Across All 3 Channels

1. Do not grow too many varieties too fast

Start with a few crops you can grow really well. Consistency beats variety in the early stages.

2. Standardize pricing

Keep pricing simple.

A clear direct to consumer price and separate pricing tiers for restaurants and grocery stores works well.

3. Make ordering easy

Everyone is busy.

The easier it is to order, the easier it is to get repeat sales.

Examples:

✅ Chef orders by text

✅ Simple online checkout for direct customers

✅ Clear reorder process for stores

4. Focus on quality and relationships

These two things drive long term growth more than almost anything else.

A high quality product plus strong relationships can help you build a business that grows steadily over time.

What New Growers Usually Get Wrong About Selling

Mistake #1: Spending too much time on low leverage channels

Not every sales channel is worth the same amount of time and effort.

Mistake #2: Chasing one time sales instead of building a list

Lead generation and follow up create compounding growth.

Mistake #3: Offering too many crops too early

Complexity makes production and sales harder.

Mistake #4: Making ordering difficult

Small friction points can cost repeat business.

Mistake #5: Underestimating consistency

Customers stay when quality and delivery stay reliable.

Final Thoughts: Where to Start Selling Microgreens First

If you are just starting a microgreens business, a smart path is:

✅ Start with direct to consumer for flexibility and fast learning

✅ Add restaurants for higher value repeat orders

✅ Add grocery stores for long term consistency

Focus on a few strong crops, keep your offer simple, gather feedback, and make ordering easy.

That approach gives you a much better chance of building a profitable microgreens business without wasting time on channels that are harder to scale.

If you want a full step by step system for building a profitable microgreens business, including growing, pricing, selling, and scaling, check out the Microgreens Business Blueprint at www.microgreens.ai.

It includes everything you need to sucessfully start from home including the most powerful software for microgreens, a prebuilt designed website and marketing funnel, professionally designed product labels, monthly group coaching and so much more.