Future of Agriculture

FOA 184: Finding a Niche in Endive Farming with Rich Collins


Listen Later

 

 

Richard Collins is the owner of California Endive Farms, a farming operation that specializes in growing endive, a vegetable of the chicory family that is so special, it’s grown twice. Due to the strict conditions and labor-intensive manner of growing it, the endive was deemed a rare crop to produce. However, Rich took advantage of this fact and decided to niche down and focus on building a farming business around it. Today, California Endive Farms is still the largest American endive grower.

 

Rich joins us to share the story of how he learned about the endive plant and what made him decide to grow such a complicated crop. He explains what endives are, why they’re difficult to grow, and the market potential it has. He describes the various factors they have to consider and how they manage to control them on their farm. Rich also shares why there’s hardly any competition for them when it comes to growing endive.

 

 

 

“There's a huge window of opportunity for us to grow crops in a much more rational manner with respect to soil and water resources.” - Rich Collins

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

  • Rich’s journey in the ag industry and the people who influenced his business decisions.
  • What endive is, why it needs to grow in the absence of light, and the difficulty in farming it.
  • What the market is like for endive, its uses, and its health benefits.
  • How marketable is it growing endive as a primary source of income?
  • The factors that influence endive growth and the conditions they control.
  • Finding a niche like endive farming today compared to what it was like decades ago.
  • The competition for endive growing and why they hardly have competition.
  • The costs of growing endive and why it's not easy to automate.

 

 

Connect with Rich Collins

  • California Endive Farms

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

Join the Conversation!

To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!

Share the Ag-Love! 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter AgGrad on Facebook AgGrad on LinkedIn AgGrad on Instagram

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Future of AgricultureBy Tim Hammerich

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

251 ratings


More shows like Future of Agriculture

View all
AgriTalk by AgriTalk

AgriTalk

147 Listeners

AgriTalk PM by Farm Journal Media

AgriTalk PM

131 Listeners

Ag PhD Radio on SiriusXM 147 by Ag PhD

Ag PhD Radio on SiriusXM 147

229 Listeners

SharkFarmer Podcast by Rob Sharkey

SharkFarmer Podcast

361 Listeners

The Business of Agriculture Podcast by Damian Mason

The Business of Agriculture Podcast

118 Listeners

Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health by Clay Conry

Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health

423 Listeners

The Modern Acre by Tim & Tyler Nuss

The Modern Acre

142 Listeners

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast by John Kempf

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast

507 Listeners

Farm4Profit Podcast by David Whitaker, Corey Hillebo, Tanner Winterhof

Farm4Profit Podcast

375 Listeners

Grain Markets and Other Stuff by Joe Vaclavik

Grain Markets and Other Stuff

305 Listeners

Regenerative Ag Stories on the Grazing Grass Podcast by Grazing Grass

Regenerative Ag Stories on the Grazing Grass Podcast

99 Listeners

Working Ranch Radio Show by Justin Mills

Working Ranch Radio Show

70 Listeners

Straight Forward Farming by Growincorn2020

Straight Forward Farming

952 Listeners

Ranching Returns Podcast by Jared Luhman

Ranching Returns Podcast

203 Listeners

Barn Talk by This'll Do Farm

Barn Talk

1,525 Listeners