Microgreens from Texas Hydroponic Farms!
Discover > Farm to Table Eating in Texas > Microgreens from Texas Hydroponic Farms!
I’m a lazy cook by all standards, but one thing I take great pride in is preparing some delicious salads. Living in Texas has made this really easy, due to the almost year-round availability of fresh veggies! Chopping up some crunchy bell peppers, slicing into a juicy tomato, dicing a refreshing cucumber, and finally, bringing it all together with some olive oil, feta, and seasoning. It’s therapeutic and, of course, wholly delicious!
But, wait! No salad is truly complete without some Texas-grown microgreens. Microgreens hit the culinary headlines in a big way when local chefs began to add these freshly-sprouted vegetables to their high-end dishes as a way of enhancing flavor and appearance. Tiny, flavorful and packed with nutrients, microgreens are now a mainstream must-have for many commercial kitchens and are also fun to grow at home.
What are Microgreens?
Though they have a self-explanatory name, these veggies are more than meets the eye. Microgreens are tender shoots of a vegetable or herb plant. They are harvested 10–14 days after germination, after they have grown 2–4 inches tall. We consume microgreens in their cotyledon stage, which is said to provide up to 40 times the vital nutrients of the fully-grown stage.
A 2012 research study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that red cabbage, amaranth (how long does amaranth last?), and daikon microgreens contain high levels of vitamins C, K and E. They’re also packed with antioxidants and are a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet.
Luckily for us, microgreens are easy to grow in controlled and environmentally-friendly ways, such as hydroponic farming. And Texas is home to numerous hydroponic and aquaponic farms.
So, if you are looking for sustainably grown microgreens, here are five hydroponic farms in Texas for you to check out!
Joe’s Microgreens
Joe’s Microgreens is a sustainable urban farm and food recycler in East Austin. They have been growing produce for farmer’s markets, home deliveries, and chefs since 2012. The farm aims to reduce waste while producing nutritious food by converting organic food waste into valuable compost. Joe’s Microgreens grows hydroponic lettuce, microgreens, and other specialty veggies. They don’t use any pesticides or fungicides, as they are dedicated to serving their customers fresh, sustainable, and clean produce. The farm also sells compost by the bag (or truckload!). So, go and grab some delicious salad greens from them at Texas Farmers Market or SFC Farmers Market.
You can even purchase their microgreens online from their website (link in the listing).
Address: 7204 Shelton Rd, Austin, TX 78725
Contact: (512) 537-3993
Profound Microfarms
Profound Microfarms, as its name goes, is a farm determined to make a profound impact on the world. Profound Microfarms was conceived out of a desire to share a passion for fresh and local produce and genuinely sustainable agricultural practices, while making a difference in the community. The farm is located in Lucas, Texas, and its products include leafy greens, salad lettuce, herbs such as basil and mint, and other types of microgreens.
You can check out Profound’s website here.
Address: 1020 W Forest Grove Rd, Lucas, TX 75002
Contact: (214) 680-8535
Moonflower Farms
Moonflower Farms in Houston, Texas is the first urban farm within the city’s limits. Providing Houston’s markets with premium-quality microgreens, herbs, and edible flowers since 2016, this farm offers products that are GMO-free, pesticide-free, and grown using sustainable practices with minimal environmental impact.
The farmers here grow lettuces, microgreens, herbs, and flowers using a hydroponic growing system. Moonflower Farms works with chefs, distributors, restaurants and the public. To know more, check out their website here.
Address: 4523 Almeda Genoa Rd, Lewisville, TX 77048
Contact: (832) 856-0955
Dragon City Farms
Dragon City Farms is an urban hydroponic farm in Dallas, Texas, specializing in herbs, vegetables, and microgreens that are free from pesticides and herbicides. This farm grows high-quality specialty crops, including hydroponic lettuces, microgreens, and several varieties of herbs. Their microgreens are maintained in an indoor farm with a controlled environment. Check out more details on their website.
Contact: (214 ) 450-6447
Spring beckons a new beginning, so go ahead and start purchasing your veggies from one or more of these Texas microgreen businesses. If you’ve tried any of them before, drop a comment below and let us know your favorites!
If you prefer to eat food that's fresh from the farm, here are some restaurants across Texas that serve up seasonal fare.
