"Prior to our farm being up and running, it took time to build awareness and trust, but the response to our microgreens has been overwhelmingly positive. I was surprised by how quickly interest grew once people experienced the quality first-hand. Chefs especially appreciated that our microgreens are pre-cut, soil-free, and easy to present in their dishes," says Diego Jiménez, CEO of Cosverti, a vertical farm based in Costa Rica.
"What began as a hobby quickly consumed more of my time and energy," Diego adds when recalling his first experience with vertical farming and the origin of Cosverti. As Diego began to establish Cosverti, he encountered some hurdles though. For starters, the sourcing of materials as most of it had to be imported, adding costs such as taxes, permits, and registrations.
Diego Jimenéz in the vertical farm
This resulted in quite a setback to begin with, having a high cost price is not something he could afford at a beginning stage. The process of importing Non-GMO seeds, which are not locally available, was also time-consuming due to national regulatory requirements. This was soon to be solved, however, the next challenge was already welcoming him with open arms.
Educating customers in a growing market
"We spent a lot of time teaching people about the benefits of pesticide-free, nutrient-dense microgreens and how our indoor vertical farming practices set us apart from traditional agriculture," he shares. Therefore, Diego has spent numerous hours on educating his local market on the differences between microgreens, sprouts, and baby leaf products.
Cosverti's focus on educating consumers through social media and collaborations with private chefs helped them build a loyal customer base, Diego explains. "We've seen steady growth in demand from both individual consumers and wholesale clients, including distributors and supermarkets. We aim to grow in line with market trends and opportunities, both within Costa Rica and beyond."
Some of Cosverti's products
Expanding with the market
"The market potential of microgreens looks very promising, especially as global trends in health and sustainability continue to drive demand for nutrient-dense greens." Diego is a firm believer that if consumers become aware of the health benefits and chefs continue to incorporate microgreens into their dishes, the market will continue to expand. Tackling this growth, Cosverti is scaling up production to match this demand. "While we want to make microgreens accessible to a broader audience, we're confident we can manage the higher price point while building demand for microgreens. Yet whilst doing so, we must acknowledge the importance of both quality and affordability."
"We are always looking for ways to reduce costs without compromising quality. In the future, we plan to explore AI and machine learning to further optimize their processes and enhance decision-making," Diego says. Whilst explaining about the upgrading of their farms, Diego doesn't rule out potential expansion to other regions, however, that's for future lookouts. For now, Diego points out, "We see many opportunities on the horizon, and we're excited to adapt to this fast-changing industry."
For more information:
Cosverti
Diego Jimenéz, CEO
+506 8653 6290
[email protected]
https://cosverti.com