Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Mendez and Danille Sindac. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Before farming, Frank and Dani were in very different careers. Frank was in design and advertising and Dani was a contractor at a tech company. Independently, each had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to merge that with their value for nature. Personal research into self-sustainability led Frank into the hobby of aquaponics, and in 2018 his hobby turned into a microgreens business. For years he serviced local restaurants as one of the only indoor farms in the city. Dani’s spontaneous interest in houseplants grew into a love for gardening which led her to begin a community garden at work. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, she had to bring it all home. In a year’s time, Dani had her own farm business as well. Then fate prevailed one day at a local farming industry event when Dani and Frank met each other. They quickly realized they had much in common, from a shared value system to a focus on producing the highest quality product. This laid the groundwork for their partnership and the birth of a new farm – twice as effective and fueled by passion for local agriculture and innovation. As the business grew, they decided to include like-minded people, like Matt, Gerald and David, to further fuel the creativity and resourcefulness needed to support the ever-growing customer base. Without them, Frank and Dani wouldn’t have a thriving farm. They have all become a tribe – adding value and challenging each other to be greater than who they were yesterday.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like all entrepreneurs, Dani and Frank have had their share of challenges. Continually competing with distributors ten times their size has been daunting, yet they have turned this adversity into opportunity by differentiating themselves with an advantageous direct-from-farm-to-restaurant model. This enables them to cultivate close relationships and better understand their customers’ needs. Another challenge they’ve experienced is with the trials and errors of perfecting the growing process. There is an overwhelming amount of data amassed on how many growing experiments ended up in failure such as low yield per tray, mold formation, or humidity levels impacting yield rates. It took years of research and development to effectively produce the unique varieties of products they now offer. Their success has been built on incredible sacrifice, risk, and tenacity to keep their business thriving.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Native Roots Farm?
Native Roots Farm specializes in locally grown artisanal edibles for professional chefs. They also offer a microgreens subscription service for home delivery. Native Roots Farm is known for creating a superior product that is the best on the market in terms of taste, freshness, and shelf life. Frank and Dani take pride in ensuring attention to detail, whether it’s harvesting at the perfect time in the growth cycle or listening to the needs of their customers. Their motto is to deliver the highest quality – both product and customer service. This is how the business was built and how it will continue to be successful long into the future.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid-19 crisis has shown us all the importance of flexibility and adaptability. When restaurants, the farm’s main source of clients, had widespread shutdowns, the farm had to quickly pivot toward new customer bases and marketing avenues. The pandemic also revealed that their collective strength was founded in a strong sense of community and the advantages of having a geographically short supply chain. Local agriculture and self-sufficiency became even more important. But most of all, the Covid-19 crisis led to a time of reflection and the realization that they have so much to be grateful for and that the most valuable things in life are the simplest – health, safety, family, and connection. Native Roots Farm will always lead with a human-centered approach to business, and Dani and Frank believe that is paramount to their success.
Pricing:
- 2022/2023 Home Delivery Microgreens Subscription (Austin Area) – $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nativerootsfarm.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nativeroots_farm
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Chief.Farmer
Image Credits
Athena Petropoulos
