Microgreens Stand Tall on the Nutritional Scale

SAINT HUBERT, Que. — While they are both young versions of edible plants, may be somewhat similar in appearance and can be easily confused for one another, there is a world of difference between a sprout and a microgreen. 

There is a reason microgreens are known as hero greens. Grown with an abundance of light and packed with nutrients, microgreens are a flavourful and nutritious addition to pretty much any dish. Top a salad with microgreens, blend them into a smoothie or use them on a sandwich or burger for an additional nutritional punch. Compared to a sprout, they are more aesthetically pleasing with a more vibrant colour and better texture, while offering more flavour and health benefits. 

“If you look at the spectrum of plants — from sprouts through microgreens and baby greens and to the mature plant — the microgreen is at the top from a nutritional value perspective,” says Cheryl Verbiski. Vice President, Commercial, at GoodLeaf Farms. “They can pack up to 40 times the nutrients of their mature counterparts, offering essential vitamins and minerals while adding incredibly nuanced flavours to most any dish.” 

Sprouts are also young versions of plants, but are typically grown in a perpetual bath of warm water and kept in the dark, without any nutrients. When ready, the whole plant is harvested — stem, root and potentially remnants of the seed casing — and consumed. But this growing process also carries with it a risk of contamination from stagnant water; food safety recalls for sprouts are common. 

The growing process for microgreens, in a controlled environment like GoodLeaf Farms in Montreal, is completely different. GoodLeaf Farms’ microgreens are grown in a porous soil or soil-like substrate, with fresh water and nutrients being supplied to the plants multiple times each day, as well as an abundance of light that mimics the spring sun, maximizing photosynthesis and encouraging healthy plant growth. The grow cycle is longer than sprouts, and just the stem and first-growth leaves are harvested for a product that is nutritiously rich, and pleasing to both the eye and the palate. 

GoodLeaf Farms’ leafy greens are also grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, and are not subject to extreme weather events. 

“From a food safety perspective, microgreens are a much safer product,” says Martin DeRome, Vice President of Operations with GoodLeaf Farms based in Montreal. “They are grown in an environment that protects them from potential contaminants, resulting in a fresh, healthy plant that is more appealing from a consumer perspective. They look better, taste better and are better for you.”

GoodLeaf Farms is one of Canada’s leading producers of microgreens, offering a year-round local source of the small leafy greens from its climate-controlled indoor vertical farms in Montreal, Calgary and Guelph, Ont. 

The Montreal GoodLeaf Farm is highly automated and outfitted with the most advanced technology available in controlled-environment agriculture. It offers an estimated 96,000 square feet of production space, and will be able to produce 2 million pounds of locally grown, fresh leafy greens each year – with an expected 40 annual harvests of microgreens and 20 annual harvests of baby greens.

GoodLeaf’s family of microgreens and baby greens — including Micro Radish, Micro Broccoli, Micro Asian Blend, Pea Shoots, Spicy Mustard Medley, Baby Spinach, Crisp Lettuce, Spring Mix, Sweet and Spicy Mix and Four Seasons Mix — are available in leading retailers across Canada.

For more information, please visit goodleaffarms.com. Follow GoodLeaf Farms on