A unique family farm in Ringaudai: here there is no arable land and the production grows on 60 square meters of premises

The farm operates in 60 square meters of premises. Various green seedlings are grown here on several floors for food, suitable for salad bases, as a decoration for meat, soup or one-bite sandwiches. The “green” brand is recognized in Kaunas, Vilnius, but manufacturers dream that they will be known throughout Lithuania.

Not just for greens, for everyone

“Very often, the product we produce is associated with raw food, but this is not true. Lawn seedlings are perfect for everyone. The start of our business started with sunflower seedlings, we love and appreciate them very much, but leek and garlic seedlings go well with fish, we grow radish seedlings to flavor the meat. They are pink, greenish, red. For snacks, a handful of alfalfa seedlings are recommended, which don’t taste very strong, but feel extremely fresh. Restaurants ask for beet seedlings to decorate dishes, and a light, sweet bean sprout, similar to a pea bush, is very suitable for children, ”Vincas said of the produce grown on his farm.

According to him, especially delicious salads, when greenery seedlings do not become the addition or decoration, but the basis of the salad. He regretted that the green seedlings are still not suitable for gifting, because they need to be delivered to the place very quickly, they are sensitive to long transport times, they need to be kept fresh.

“The seedlings are a product intended for refrigerator storage, they will not be shipped when placed in an envelope. Usually customers come to pick them up and sometimes we put them in bus shipments and deliver them ourselves. The most important thing is that the transport time is short, they reach the customers in a few hours. “Vincas spoke about the logistical challenges. The line of dry products is gradually emerging on this farm, which, unlike the green seedlings, also it is suitable for gifts.

For the Lithuanian market

“We are a specialized manufacturer, I don’t think there is much competition for our products yet. We delight the Lithuanian market with our products. We often perform at fairs, so Kaunas and Vilnius recognize us, well, and with other Lithuanian cities, more difficult, there is still room to expand. Of course, I would like to find clients abroad, but so far we have not been able to do so. When we succeed, we will definitely “shoot” champagne “, – Vincas, UAB director” Žali žali ” , he opened his vision and planned the development.

He said that seedlings are not necessary to grow seedlings. They grow indoors, indoors, in a humid environment. Some take a day and a half to germinate, others take between 10 and 12 days. On average, we grow a batch of produce in 6 days.

“When we started, we did not know that the cultivation of seedlings is an activity strictly regulated in European legislation, there are many rules and regulations specifically for the cultivation of seedlings, so it is natural that we, as producers, have a lot to do with the State. Food and Veterinary Service, there is often and we discuss. Only when we got involved did we learn that this is a high risk food due to microbiological contamination. An operator who wants to grow seedlings must obtain a permit, all procedures are strict enough. Fortunately, our activities began even when regulation was not as strong as it is today, and we have grown with increasingly stringent requirements. It would be much more difficult to start seedling production today than in 2014, when we did, ”the producer opened.

Gained experience from a Lithuanian immigrant to the US.

V. Benevičius did not plan to become a farmer. He is a doctor of technical sciences, experimenting with innovations, specializing in the development of new products.

“We investigated the devices placed on the human body and my wife was interested in plant seedlings. He got experience from his mother, as well as the scientist Danutė Žabaliūnienė, a doctor of agronomy, who wrote scientific articles on wheatgrass and sunflower seedlings, ”said the interlocutor.

According to him, mothers-in-law are very active people. In addition to teaching at the university, he also engaged in other activities, periodically going to work in the United States. Here the wife’s mother met Ms Loreta Vainius, a Lithuanian immigrant, promoter of living food and health, who stimulated interest in plant seedlings and their useful properties. For many years, his mother-in-law, his wife, and himself went to the United States, studied, helped Ms. Loreta Vainis grow these seedlings, and worked for her. Of course, Ms. Loreta only did this for her own circle, she grew green seedlings for non-mass consumption. However, their experience, advice, training and advice continue to help.

The business was driven by motherhood

Vincas said that the start of the business was motivated by the motherhood of his wife Indre. Indre was expecting her first child at the time. The woman, who was going around the rhythm of her active life, did not like at all the idea of ​​having to rest for several years, she began to think about what she could do here.

Indre started growing sunflower seedlings at home, on the windowsill, and his harvest was perfect for a party at the workplace, saying goodbye to colleagues before going to the decrees. Co-workers enjoyed the non-traditional tasting very much and continued to order, but the daughter, who saw the world prematurely, stopped the active woman’s activities for a bit.

Once the daughter grew up, she was able to grow seedlings again, and the products were already known to friends, relatives, relatives, and coworkers. But the most important thing is that the knowledge accumulated in the US allowed everything to be cultivated correctly. The ranks of those who want to taste a unique and healthy product have grown organically.

The house converted into a greenhouse

“In order to grow crops for everyone who wants to, we have not turned all the houses into greenhouses. Little by little I realized that I saw my wife in my house less and less often. I came back from work and my wife was doing trainings and tastings. It was time for the family to just move on. Then the tension began to appear, he was not fascinated by the busy work schedule, but also by the greenhouse always on the windowsill. I realized that something needed to change. Soon, the greenhouse of our house was moved to a place specially adapted for the cultivation of seedlings, where our farm still works. And while he was expecting a third child, his wife decided to withdraw from active productive activities and immerse herself more in education, presenting products in schools, kindergartens or companies, working with children and people ”, the interlocutor opened about a stressful period of life.

He assured that he did not need start-up capital to start a business, he had enough skills and knowledge to do everything with his own hands.

“Everything in this business must be done with precision, precisely because otherwise the seedlings will not grow,” emphasized Vincas.

Time dedicated to business development

After the birth of his second child, his son, Vincas himself went on paternity leave and immersed himself in the family business.

Sodra’s profits allowed for survival and a stable income, and everything that was created and earned in the seedling business could be invested in renting a premises, buying seeds and expanding activities, and then there was the opportunity to leave the business. job.

“We have spent the rest of the time raising two children to develop the business,” jokes the interlocutor.

As these seedlings are agricultural products, the farm was registered in the wife’s name. However, the land is only a symbol on the farm, it is not necessary for this activity. The farm now employs 16 people, and since 2016. UAB Žali žali, established in 2006, is dedicated to the creation and development of a brand and image. The farm grows 10 to 15 different species of seedlings.

According to Vincas, the success of a business is determined by the ability to adapt and constant learning.

“It just came to our knowledge then. Walking down the street can make you think about what you would like to do, but it probably won’t work because in each activity, the original idea is transformed into something different. Here it is important to be able to give up what is not there. in demand over time, constantly monitoring what the market needs, not engaging in one activity, and especially when there is no demand, to be able to take responsibility, react quickly to changing circumstances, – opened by the owner of a farm special.