Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Ramirez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Ivan Ramirez, owner and operator of Earth Flavors, an indoor farm located in Saint Augustine Beach specialized in microgreens and edible flowers cultivation. For a bit of context, microgreens are young herbs, vegetables, and certain flowers harvested at a very specific moment, after sprouting but before reaching the baby-leaf stage. Known for their concentrated flavor and vibrant appearance, they also contain significantly higher nutrient density than their mature counterparts.
Microgreens have been part of the health world for decades, but today they’re becoming increasingly popular in the culinary industry, not only as garnishes but also as true ingredients, which is exactly how Earth Flavors intends to present them.
Earth Flavors grew from a lifelong love of food and plants. My passion for cooking began as a kid, helping in my family’s catering business, and later, during college, working at local nurseries sparked a fascination with how plants grow and thrive. As an adult, I had the chance to experience the service industry from the inside, working in kitchens for the last 10 years, finding my appreciation for fresh ingredients, consistency, building work ethic, discovering cuisines fusions, techniques, and everything that involves a great service.
It was in the kitchens that I discovered microgreens, their colors, textures, and flavors captivated me, but I noticed a small recurrent detail: most arrived wilted or past their prime. That inspired the idea for Earth Flavors at first: a farm that could provide chefs with fresh and flavorful microgreens with outstanding and consistent quality.
Before putting hands to work, I studied the business model, set clear goals, and carefully researched over 40 plant varieties to grow and offer. I built a small farm, ran tests, and refined the process until everything was ready. By May 2024, I began bringing samples to local restaurants, and seeing chefs excited to use them confirmed Earth Flavors had found its place.
Since then, we’ve grown step by step, moving to a larger space, upgrading packaging, creating new mixes, partnering with local chefs and markets, and expanding deliveries into nearby counties. Our farm stays busy all week, filled with hands-on work, problem-solving, learning and always experimenting. Running it alongside my wife has made the journey even more rewarding, every tray we grow reflects our dedication, passion, and belief that freshness and quality make all the difference.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When we started Earth Flavors, one of the first obstacles was simply learning how to grow everything we wanted to offer. The world of microgreens is huge, and we wanted a menu that felt thoughtful and diverse. Herbs, vegetables, specialty leaves, shoots, flowers, each one required its own process, its own timing, its own understanding. So we became students. We built our growing systems, germination calendars, and operational methods from zero.
Another challenging experience was moving our farm to a bigger space in the middle of operations. We were harvesting, watering, packaging, and delivering, all while rebuilding the farm around us. We had to adjust the new space quickly: dialing in temperature, humidity, and airflow to make sure every tray met the quality that defines us. It was stressful, but also a moment that showed us how much we were capable of.
Time has also been a challenge. Microgreens don’t wait, and a two-person farm means every job is ours, production, logistics, cleaning, marketing, finances, and more. It’s constant sacrifice, but passion softens the weight. This business is demanding, but it’s also deeply fulfilling, and that’s what keeps us moving forward. In the end, facing challenges has become part of the joy. Each one pushes us to grow, improve, and innovate, and honestly, searching for new challenges is what keeps this journey fun and exciting.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Earth Flavors, our focus has always been on quality and customization. The vision was to offer something truly authentic, products and service that other farms don’t typically provide. Everything we grow is produced to order, which allows us to deliver the freshest possible ingredients while minimizing waste. Sustainability is important to us, and as we grow, we plan to expand that effort with projects like rainwater collection, composting and solar energy. Even now, we repurpose leftover plant material after harvest by donating it as feed for local farm animals.
Our menu includes specialty mixes and blends, but we also offer the option for chefs to create their own custom mix, even naming it after themselves or their restaurant. Behind the scenes, my role is to coordinate the company, build systems, and ensure consistency. I developed a full operations manual, tested and refined through my own work, that allows us to train anyone who joins our team with precision and clarity.
Brand-wise, Earth Flavors represents purity, honesty, and care. We’re a clean, straightforward brand with a simple mission: provide ingredients grown with care, story, and unmatchable quality.
We love connecting with chefs, food lovers, and our community, Earth Flavors’ social media is the option to be part of the story and watch our farm adventures unfold in real time.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Consistency.
For me, success has always come down to discipline, the ability to show up every single day with the same level of focus and dedication. But true consistency starts with structure: clear standards, defined procedures, and the discipline to maintain them. Once those parameters are set, it becomes a matter of protecting that level of quality day after day.
In farming, especially microgreens, consistency is everything. And that commitment to steady, reliable excellence is the reason Earth Flavors produces the same premium results every single week.
Pricing:
- You can find our products, at Fresh Market Island 1830 A1A S
- Or send us an e-mail for restaurant prices.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.earth-flavors.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/earthflavors7
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/earthfalvrosfl
