Wading River Woman's 'Micro' Farm Expands: 'It Took A Lot To Get Here'

WADING RIVER, NY — A local Wading River farmer is looking to expand and offer her Urban Coyote microgreens at a host of new locations across the East End and beyond.

Nicole Petti said she's excited about expanding her wholesale business.

"I want to nourish the most people possible, and that means expanding access," she said. Urban Coyote Farm microgreens will be available on the North Fork at Sang Lee Farms in Peconic, 1760 Homestead in Riverhead, Golden Acres Organic Farm in Riverhead and on the South Fork at Share the Harvest Farm in East Hampton and Hen of the Woods in Southampton.

The greens can also be ordered through Zilnicki Farms' weekly, customizable CSA, which has options for delivery or pick-up at their farmstand in Riverhead.

"We have a few new partners in the works, as well, so stay tuned," Petti said.

Colorful Urban Coyote Farm microgreens are also featured on the new, all-vegetarian menu at North Fork Chocolate & Eatery in Riverhead; North Fork Chocolate & Eatery Chef Steven Amaral transforms some of the greens into pesto, she said.

Petti celebrated the one-year anniversary of her one-woman operation Urban Coyote Farm, her home-based microgreenery, last month.

One year, she said, translates to planting more than 200 pounds of seeds. Petti said she grows about 4,000 10-inch x 10-inch square trays in a year and produces about 10,000 clamshells full of microgreens.

Microgreens are young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs, according to IntegrisHealth.org.

"It took a lot to get here," Petti said. "From learning how to grow, retrofitting my grow space, and setting up processes to meet industry standards, it was certainly a labor of love."

Current offerings include broccoli, celery, cilantro, cress, dill, leeks, parsley, radish, sunflower, pea shoots, and a rotation of seasonal mixes.

Microgreens, Petti said, "are bursting with micronutrients and antioxidants. They are six to 40 times more nutritious than their adult forms."

The name of her business, Urban Coyote Farm, holds deep meaning. It was named, she said, "for the resiliency and adaptability of the urban coyote, which we constantly draw inspiration from as we innovate and build our suburban food system."

Because she specializes in freshly harvested, double-washed microgreens, Petti said she seeds trays twice a week. The whole process from seeding to harvest takes 8 to 28 days, depending on the variety, she explained.

"Harvest entails cutting the greens, double washing them, spin drying them followed by a quick fan dry, and then they get packed. Washing is the most labor-intensive part, but I strongly feel that this makes for a far superior end product both in quality of the green and convenience for our customers. Once they’re packed and labeled, I separate out for customer orders and for weekly markets. We deliver to regular customers on Tuesdays and Saturdays."

Customers can sign up for a Urban Coyote Farms Microgreens subscription with weekly, and every-other-week options available, delivering from the Stony Brook area to Southold, Petti said.

To find the signup form, go to her Instagram and Facebook bios @urbancoyotefarm.

"I’m absolutely delighted to bring customers gorgeous microgreens each week," Petti said.

Petti said she harvests once or twice per week, depending on the time of the season.

"This ensures our customers get the freshest microgreens available," she said.

Urban Coyote Farm microgreens are available directly from Petti every Saturday morning at the East End Food Market farmers' market in Riverhead. The market is currently set up at Twin Fork Brewing at 807 Raynor Avenue in Riverhead, but is set to move to the new East End Food Hub at 139 Main Road in Riverhead this summer, she said.

Petti also sells her greens at KK’s The Farm in Southold, at the monthly markets held there.

Petti will also be selling her microgreens at Three Village Farmers Market in East Setauket, which runs from May through October on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"I love selling directly to my customers," Petti said. "I get to see their faces light up."

She added that fighting food insecurity and accessibility remain top goals; Petti is able to accept SNAP and FMNP payments for her microgreens at East End Food Market.