Inspiring Conversations with Patrick Sumey of Akron Microgreens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Sumey.

Hi Patrick, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our journey began after more than 20 years of military service. As we transitioned into retirement, we both faced unexpected health battles: my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I suffered a series of heart attacks. These challenges changed our perspective on health and nutrition forever. We decided to take control of what we ate by starting a homestead with a garden, chickens, and rabbits. What began as a way to keep growing food through the winter—microgreens—quickly became a passion. Today, we’re proud to share the nutrient-dense greens that helped us reclaim our health

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We quickly learned that growing the greens was the easy part—it was the ‘Business’ side of farming that truly challenged us. From finding reliable accounts with local chefs to navigating the early hurdles of pricing for profitability, every step has been a lesson in resilience. Today, we’re proud to serve chefs, markets, and home delivery customers, though we’re constantly evolving our approach to marketing and networking as our business grows.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Akron Microgreens?
we specialize in indoor-grown, nutrient-dense produce harvested at the peak of freshness. We believe that food is the first line of defense for a healthy life. Our military background taught us discipline and precision, and we bring those same standards to every tray we grow. We are known for our “direct to community” model, ensuring that our greens are harvested at peak nutrition and delivered while they are still vibrant and fresh.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
There is so much to love about Akron. We truly value the strong sense of community here and the city’s passion for supporting local businesses. Plus, having the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Summit Metro Parks right in our backyard makes it incredibly easy to escape into nature

Contact Info:

• Website: https://akron-microgreens.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akronmicrogreen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akronmicrogreens/