10 • June 2020
COVER STORY
Coast River Business Journal
Industry Spotlight:
Peninsula Microgreens prosper in Astoria
Pacific County basement business booms amid coronavirus pandemic
Story and Photos by Luke Whittaker
Coast River Business Journal
lwhittaker@crbizjournal.com
R
ichard Baumann’s big plans were born from
small plants.
Baumann, 56, first planted the seeds for
his Peninsula Microgreens Farm about three
years ago and today the fruits of his labor
are paying off with a growing demand for his fresh produce
harvested daily in the basement of his Long Beach home.
“I always wanted to be a farmer,” said Baumann
standing between aisles of microgreens illuminated under
fluorescent lights.
“It just always seemed like a pipedream because I
thought I needed land and a tractor,” he said. “But all the
sudden, I’m a farmer. It’s like a dream for me.”
Covid-19 crisis dials up demand for
fresh, local produce
It was only a few months ago when Baumann was
worried the covid-19 crisis would smother his small
business. Instead, Baumann is experiencing unexpected
growth and eyeing an expansion fueled by an increasing
demand for his specialty microgreen salad mixes.
“We were preparing for our greatest year at the (farmer’s)
market, this was going to be our best year, then covid-19
happened,” Baumann said.
“We thought we were going to hurt big time, so we
reached out to the community. The community responded.
We are making up all the market revenue and extra business
since covid-19 started because people want local produce.”
Baumann is proud that his fresh produce has been a
big help during the pandemic, when some residents were
hesitant to visit grocery stores for fear of exposure to the
covid-19 virus.
“Covid-19 gave me an opportunity to do something that
I think is valuable for the community. I’m providing them
with produce that’s delivered to their house so they don’t
have to go to the store. It’s safe and local. It’s just a good
feeling to be a part of the community and give back in this
way,” Baumann said.
Mixing soil before planting microgreens
Richard Baumann examines the different varieties of microgreens grown at his Long Beach home. Baumann grows pea shoots, sunflower
shoots, Rambo radish, china rose radish, wasabi, swiss chard, amaranth, broccoli, red acre cabbage, basil and arugula which serve as the basis
for the salads.
Adding soil while preparing to plant microgreens
Watering newly-planted seeds.