The 7 Most Profitable Microgreens to Grow for Restaurants and Farmers Markets

Last updated: 27.05.2026.

Not all microgreens are created equal — and if you’re growing them to sell, picking the wrong varieties is the difference between a profitable side hustle and a freezer full of unsold greens.

Some microgreens grow fast, sell for high per-pound prices, and have repeat-customer demand from chefs and farmers market regulars. Others take longer, sell for less, or attract niche buyers who order once and don’t come back. After two years of running test trays and tracking what restaurants actually reorder, here are the seven that consistently make the most money.

Each entry below includes the realistic wholesale price, the days-to-harvest, the seed cost per tray, and where to source the seeds. Pick three or four of these to start — running every variety at once is how new growers end up with mediocre quality across the board.

The honest economics of microgreens (so you know what to look for)

Before getting into varieties — every microgreen has the same basic economic structure:

• Seed cost per tray: $0.30–$2.50 depending on variety
• Other materials per tray (coco coir, water, light, packaging): ~$1.50
• Growing time: 7–18 days from seed to harvest
• Yield per tray: roughly 0.7–1.2 lb of microgreens
• Wholesale price (to chefs): $20–$40 per lb
• Farmers market price: $25–$50 per lb (or $4–$8 per 2oz clamshell)

A profitable microgreen variety is one where the (yield × selling price) significantly beats the (seed cost + materials + growing time). The seven below all clear that bar consistently.

You’ll need basic equipment to run them — quality 1020 microgreens trays on Amazon →, a 4-tier wire shelving rack →, and LED grow lights →. For the full starter equipment breakdown, see our microgreens startup cost guide.

1. Sunflower microgreens — the chef favorite

Wholesale price: $25–$40/lb
Days to harvest: 8–12
Seed cost per tray: $1.50–$2.50
Yield per tray: ~1.2 lb (one of the highest)

Sunflower microgreens are nutty, crunchy, almost meaty in texture. Chefs love them because they hold up well on a plate without wilting and add visual interest with their thick stems and split-seed leaves. They sell to upscale restaurants particularly well — sandwich shops, salad bars, and fine dining all use them.

The one trick: black oil sunflower seeds (the kind you use for microgreens) need to be soaked for 8–12 hours before planting. Without the soak, germination is uneven.

Best place to source seeds:

• Sunflower microgreens seeds on Amazon → — basic quantities, fast shipping
• True Leaf Market — bulk pricing once you scale (their 5-lb bags drop per-tray cost to under $1)

2. Pea shoots — the highest-yield variety

Wholesale price: $20–$35/lb
Days to harvest: 10–14
Seed cost per tray: $1.20–$2.00
Yield per tray: ~1.2 lb (often higher with regrowth)

Pea shoots are the secret weapon of profitable microgreens production. They yield massive volume per tray, have a sweet flavor that chefs reach for repeatedly, and — unlike most microgreens — they regrow after the first cut. You can often get 1.5x to 2x the yield from a single tray over two harvests.

Asian restaurants are particularly heavy buyers. Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese kitchens use pea shoots in soups, stir fries, and salads — and they reorder weekly.

Best place to source seeds:

• Pea shoots seeds on Amazon → — speckled pea and dun pea are the standard varieties
• Bootstrap Farmer — sells pea seed in 5-lb bags

You’ll also want a larger spray bottle → for the soak and pre-germination misting that pea shoots need.

3. Radish microgreens — the speed pick

Wholesale price: $25–$45/lb
Days to harvest: 7–10 (fastest on this list)
Seed cost per tray: $0.40–$0.80
Yield per tray: ~0.7–0.9 lb

Radish microgreens are the fastest-growing variety that sells well, period. From seed to harvest in 7 days means you can run a single tray 5+ times per month — turning capital fast. They have a peppery, spicy bite that chefs use as garnish on sushi, steak, and elevated tacos.

There are three popular varieties — China rose (pink stems, beautiful for plating), red rambo (dark crimson), and daikon (white stems, mildest). China rose typically commands the highest price because of the visual.

Best place to source seeds:

• Radish microgreens seeds on Amazon →
• Red rambo radish seeds →

4. Broccoli microgreens — the health-market pick

Wholesale price: $20–$35/lb
Days to harvest: 8–12
Seed cost per tray: $0.80–$1.50
Yield per tray: ~0.8–1.0 lb

Broccoli microgreens have become the most famous microgreen variety in the past decade — driven entirely by the health and nutrition world. They contain a compound called sulforaphane, which gets a lot of attention in wellness media, which translates to consistent retail demand at farmers markets and health food stores.

If you’re selling at farmers markets, broccoli microgreens are your single best variety. Health-conscious shoppers actively seek them out and pay premium for them by the 2oz clamshell.

Best place to source seeds:

• Organic broccoli microgreens seeds on Amazon → — organic certification matters for the health-market positioning
• True Leaf Market — they’re the industry standard for organic broccoli seed at scale

For farmers market sales, you’ll also want quality 2oz clamshell containers → and printable food labels → for branded packaging.

5. Wheatgrass — the juice bar pick

Wholesale price: $30–$50/lb (or sold by the tray to juice bars)
Days to harvest: 9–12
Seed cost per tray: $0.30–$0.60
Yield per tray: ~1.0 lb

Wheatgrass is a slightly different market — it’s primarily sold to juice bars, smoothie shops, and health-conscious consumers who juice it directly. Not really a chef product. But the margins are excellent, the seed is cheap, and the demand is consistent.

Many growers sell wheatgrass by the whole tray rather than by the pound — juice bars want to cut their own. A whole tray of mature wheatgrass sells for $15–$25 to juice operations, with materials costing under $2.50.

Best place to source seeds:

• Hard red wheatgrass seeds on Amazon →
• Buy in 5-lb bulk — wheatgrass uses a lot of seed per tray

You’ll also want a juicer → on hand for testing your own product before pitching to juice bars.

6. Beet and amaranth microgreens — the premium color pick

Wholesale price: $35–$60/lb (highest on this list)
Days to harvest: 10–14
Seed cost per tray: $1.00–$2.00
Yield per tray: ~0.5–0.7 lb (lower yield, but premium price)

Beet microgreens (deep red stems with green-red leaves) and amaranth microgreens (intense magenta) are what fine dining chefs use as plate accents and garnish. They command premium prices because they’re visually striking and harder to grow consistently. Lower yield, but the per-pound prices more than make up for it.

These are not high-volume products. You won’t sell 10 lb of beet microgreens per week — but you’ll sell 1–2 lb to high-end restaurants at premium prices, and the relationships with those accounts are sticky.

Best place to source seeds:

• Beet microgreens seeds (Bull’s Blood variety) on Amazon →
• Amaranth microgreens seeds (Red Garnet) →

For presentation, premium customers expect premium packaging. Consider upgrading to premium hinged clamshells → for these specific varieties.

7. Cilantro microgreens — the chef’s specialty pick

Wholesale price: $35–$60/lb
Days to harvest: 14–21 (longest on this list)
Seed cost per tray: $1.50–$2.50
Yield per tray: ~0.6–0.8 lb

Cilantro microgreens are the variety chefs pay the most for and can almost never find. They have the same flavor as adult cilantro but with a more delicate texture and dramatic visual presentation. Mexican, Vietnamese, Indian, and Thai restaurants all use them — and most can’t source them locally, so a local supplier is gold.

The catch: they’re slow (2–3 weeks vs 7–10 days for radish) and germinate unevenly. They’re an intermediate-to-advanced variety, but the margins reward the patience.

Best place to source seeds:

• Cilantro microgreens seeds (split coriander) on Amazon →
• “Split” coriander seeds germinate more reliably than whole seeds — make sure to specifically buy split

These need to be soaked for 24 hours before planting and germinated under a cover for 5–7 days. A propagation dome or humidity cover → makes this dramatically easier.

Quick comparison table

Variety	Wholesale $/lb	Days to harvest	Yield/tray	Seed cost/tray	Best customer
Sunflower	$25–40	8–12	1.2 lb	$1.50–2.50	Upscale restaurants
Pea shoots	$20–35	10–14	1.2 lb	$1.20–2.00	Asian restaurants
Radish	$25–45	7–10	0.7–0.9 lb	$0.40–0.80	Sushi, steakhouses
Broccoli	$20–35	8–12	0.8–1.0 lb	$0.80–1.50	Farmers markets, health stores
Wheatgrass	$30–50	9–12	1.0 lb	$0.30–0.60	Juice bars
Beet/Amaranth	$35–60	10–14	0.5–0.7 lb	$1.00–2.00	Fine dining
Cilantro	$35–60	14–21	0.6–0.8 lb	$1.50–2.50	Mexican/Asian restaurants

The combo that maximizes early-stage profitability

If you’re starting from zero customer base, here’s the variety combination we’ve seen work best for new growers:

• Sunflower microgreens (high volume, broad appeal)
• Pea shoots (high yield, easy upsell to Asian restaurants)
• Radish microgreens (fast cycle, restaurant garnish demand)
• Broccoli microgreens (farmers market staple)

These four cover the major customer types — fine dining, casual restaurants, Asian kitchens, farmers market shoppers — without spreading you too thin. Add beet/amaranth and cilantro only once you have 3–4 stable restaurant accounts who specifically request them.

A starter seed inventory for these four varieties runs roughly $40–$70 from Amazon — buy small first to test which sells in your local market before committing to bulk orders.

Starter microgreens seed variety pack on Amazon →

What you’ll also need to grow these profitably

Beyond seeds, the recurring equipment list for a serious microgreens operation:

• Commercial-quality 1020 trays → — buy 40+ if running multiple varieties weekly
• Coconut coir growing medium → — cleaner and easier than soil for indoor production
• Full-spectrum LED grow lights → — Spider Farmer and Mars Hydro are the standards
• Misting spray bottles (large) → — manual misting at scale is brutal without a pump sprayer
• Sharp harvest scissors → — cleaner cuts mean longer shelf life
• Digital food scale → — selling by weight requires accuracy

For the complete starter equipment breakdown, see our microgreens equipment starter kit guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which variety should I start with if I can only pick one?
Sunflower. High yield, broad appeal across restaurant types, and chefs reorder consistently. Pea shoots are a close second.

What’s the highest-margin variety on this list?
Beet/amaranth and cilantro microgreens by per-pound revenue. But the yield is lower, so the per-tray revenue is similar to sunflower. Pick based on which customers you’re targeting, not just margin.

Can I sell directly to consumers instead of restaurants?
Yes — farmers markets, CSA add-ons, and direct delivery to local subscribers all work. Broccoli microgreens are the strongest direct-to-consumer seller because of the health angle.

How do I price for my local market?
Visit two or three local restaurants that use microgreens. Ask their current supplier’s price (chefs will usually tell you). Price 10–15% under that for your first 3 months while you build the relationship, then move to market rate once you’re established.

What about specialty varieties like mustard, kale, or kohlrabi microgreens?
All viable, but lower demand than the seven above. Add them once you have established customers asking for variety.

The bottom line

Pick three or four of these seven, not all seven at once. Sunflower, pea shoots, radish, and broccoli is the highest-probability starting combination. Source good seeds from True Leaf Market or Amazon for first batches, then move to bulk as your customer base grows.

The microgreens business is unusually unforgiving about variety selection — pick wrong and you’ll have unsold inventory; pick right and you’ll have more orders than you can fill within a few months. These seven are the historically proven picks. Start with the ones that match your local market and build from there.