High school students sample the goods from No Doubt Sprouts

Spreading the word about healthful foods and learning a few business skills inspired Ginger Farineau’s middle school consumer science classes to grow – and peddle – their own sprouts.

The first task: Deciding what they wanted to grow. “We decided to test 16 kinds of seeds by raising samples in baby food jars,” says Ginger. As the tiny plants took off, students observed how fast each type grew and calculated which would be most cost-effective. But the real proof was in the tasting; alfalfa, radish, and clover sprouts came out on top.

Realizing they’d need a large sprout box to grow enough to market, they approached woodworker and teacher Dan Treinus. “Students were bummed about having to pay for the sprout box,” says Ginger. But, she adds, it was an important lesson in business realities. (A local food business owner also gave the class a glimpse of what it takes to start a business, the risks involved, and so on.) The next step: create a business proposal in PowerPoint to persuade the PTO to float a loan.

“The tough part was deciding how to run a business with four different classes,” says Ginger. In the end, each class took on one main production responsibility: soaking seeds, or planting, watering, harvesting, or packaging them. They also took turns going to a local market to buy seeds in bulk. The “proprietors” faced a real-life math challenge as they puzzled out what to charge per ounce. The student-designed logo for the growing business, dubbed No Doubt Sprouts, featured a circle with a slash through the words junk food.

“We created some sprout salads by adding peppers, onions, and salad dressing to our mix,” says Ginger. Next, the young producers ran taste tests at the middle and high schools. A few university students volunteered to help the class research the product’s nutritive value and create information packets to boost interest. Business cards, flyers, and posters, along with the producers’ drive to spread the word, became successful marketing tools!

“The entrepreneurs sold the sprouts to the food service, which routinely featured them on the school sandwich bar. Then they evaluated their enterprise and projected future sales by conducting surveys and calculating costs. “As our growing techniques improved, so did sales,” reports Ginger. This enabled her classes to pay off their initial investment, cover ongoing costs, and make a modest profit.

No Doubt Sprouts turned out to be a short-lived venture, but it is a winning concept. “This kind of student-run project is doable,” says parent volunteer Bonnie Acker, “But to make it sustainable, it needs more support than just one busy teacher can provide."

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