With 958,320 ft2 of canopy in Exeter, Rhode Island, Farming Turtles is New England’s premier organic microgreen, baby green, and wheatgrass farm distributing to supermarkets, specialty food stores, and restaurants throughout the region. They are certified organic by Baystate Organics and HAACP certified by PrimusGFS.
Keep reading to learn how Farming Turtles increased yields and lowered costs by switching to bio365 growing media, or click the button below to watch the video.
Watch the VideoChallenges – Navigating Food Safety and Supply Chain Inconsistencies
The Farming Turtles team strives to grow the most beautifully colored and intensely flavored organic microgreens, baby greens, and wheatgrass. Good food begins with good growing media, and Farming Turtles co-founder, Lauri Roberts, knows it’s a critical factor in the company’s successful yields.
They use horticultural media that complies with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which has strict testing criteria and contaminant level thresholds. They also source media that meets the requirements of organic farming practices and is free of rocks and other debris that might interfere with the company’s agricultural machinery.
For years, unreliable suppliers were the biggest obstacle to obtaining the soil Farming Turtles wanted. Lauri can share stories about several instances when soil deliveries fell short of expectations or didn’t arrive on time.
Lauri’s concerns centered around four major issues:
- Suppliers could not quickly supply FSMA-compliant soil dense in nutrients and compatible with organic farming standards, sometimes needing up to three months’ advance notice to prepare and ship the needed quantity.
- Suppliers failed to deliver a consistent product, with too much variation from batch to batch.
- Lauri was buying different soils for different varieties. She needed to find a media blend that would work for all of the various different crops and microgreens Farming Turtles grows.
- Yields were lower than Lauri wanted and inconsistent.
Lauri found a supplier who exceeded Farming Turtle’s requirements: bio365 – a biologically-active, clean growing media that is both FSMA tested and compliant and OMRI listed for organic use.
“Complying with the FSMA gets more challenging each year. bio365 is the safest soil we’ve ever used to grow food that is compliant, organic, and safe for consumers to eat because it isn’t dirty and doesn’t have chemicals on it.”
“Complying with the FSMA gets more challenging each year. bio365 is the safest soil we’ve ever used to grow food that is compliant, organic, and safe for consumers to eat because it isn’t dirty and doesn’t have chemicals on it.”– Lauri Roberts, Co-Owner, Farming Turtles
How is bio365 different from any other growing media? Learn more.
Solution – Nutrient-dense, Clean, and Consistent Horticultural Media from bio365
Over the years, Farming Turtles has used several bio365 mixes, including BIOBLEND™ and BIOGREENS™, all of which are biologically active, clean, consistent, and pathogen-free. These qualities result in a one-of-a-kind high-performance organic growing medium tailored to the needs of controlled agriculture and fitting for the environment at Farming Turtles.
“In the microgreen world, you get your money from how big and beautiful your crops are, how long they last, and how good they taste. With bio365, our crops are bigger, stronger, more attractive, longer-lasting, and better tasting.”
“In the microgreen world, you get your money from how big and beautiful your crops are, how long they last, and how good they taste. With bio365, our crops are bigger, stronger, more attractive, longer-lasting, and better tasting.”– Lauri Roberts, Co-Owner, Farming Turtles
The farm’s food safety program dictates that they can’t take anything onto their property without being properly tested for heavy metals and pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. Unlike many companies that are not capable or willing to test, bio365 batch tests horticultural media for these contaminants and provides reports to confirm in compliance with FSMA’s strict guidelines.
BIOGREENS is also rich in nitrogen without using manure, which is essential to organic farming and helps avoid contamination from pathogens. Furthermore, bio365 cleans their horticultural media to ensure it doesn’t clump, encourages proper water drainage, and is free of debris.
On top of meeting stringent requirements for cleanliness, bio365 prepares its media in advance to deliver it on time, typically within two weeks. Farming Turtles takes inventory of their soil weekly and usually orders a month’s supply at a time. “They’ve never not followed through on timing,” Lauri said. “They never mess up.”
For Farming Turtles co-owner Eddie Varipapa, who grew up in a more traditional farming environment, working with bio365 has been a revelation. Not long after joining the company, he recalls a time they ran short of soil. Did they panic? Far from it.
“It was eight o’clock at night when I called the team at bio365, and they took the call instantaneously. Within 24 hours, we had a shipment delivered so there was no lapse in our production,” he said. “That’s where bio 365 becomes a true partner.”
“I’ve worked with at least 10 soil companies in my 15 years at Farming Turtles. bio365 is by far the most efficient, friendly, and fair soil company we’ve used. I no longer have to ask how clean the soil is and how long it will take to receive it.”
“I’ve worked with at least 10 soil companies in my 15 years at Farming Turtles. bio365 is by far the most efficient, friendly, and fair soil company we’ve used. I no longer have to ask how clean the soil is and how long it will take to receive it.”– Lauri Roberts, Co-Owner, Farming Turtles
Results – Enhanced Food Safety, Greater Yields, and Incredible Value
- 150% increase in arugula yield
- 50% reduction in soil, space, and labor needed
- 100% pre-shipment batch-level testing for pathogens and heavy metals
- 0 contamination incidents
- 3 days faster to maturity
Farming Turtles is growing food for people, and remaining FSMA compliant is becoming harder each year. When it comes to their soil, however, Lauri feels confident.
“We’re growing food that is safe to eat,” she said. “The bio365 soil gives you that combination of being organic, which I think is really important in terms of the consumer eating food that doesn’t have chemicals on it, but also having food that is not dirty, doesn’t have bacteria, and doesn’t have heavy metals in it beyond what we’re supposed to be able to consume.”
Although bio365 is more expensive than other options, Lauri and Eddie agree that the benefits outweigh the higher cost. In addition to cleaner crops, they’re also seeing larger yields.
Farming Turtles went from producing four ounces of arugula per tray to 10 ounces. “We can grow more than twice as much with half the soil, half the space, and half the labor,” Lauri explains. “Paying the higher price for bio365 is worth it.”
Crops mature an average of three days faster, increasing the number of annual harvests and further boosting profitability.
Apart from the impact Farming Turtles sees on their bottom line, they’ve also received great value from the expertise, consultation, and additional programs that bio365 offers. Together, they’ve cultivated a relationship that has become a key part of their ongoing success.
“They’re great partners and wonderful people,” Eddie said. “When it comes to asking questions like, ‘Why are we seeing this?’ or ‘What are your thoughts on this?’ they’re always there. Having somebody to bounce ideas off of in a professional atmosphere is always a plus. That’s the benefit of having someone like bio365.”
Modern farming involves a lot of detail and dedication. Finding reliable, high-quality suppliers is a big part of that. Farming Turtles found the partner they needed in bio365, whose living soil helps ensure their products are the freshest, most nutritious, and most delicious around.
“Doing business with bio365 isn’t just a transaction. It’s truly a partnership and relationship.”
“Doing business with bio365 isn’t just a transaction. It’s truly a partnership and relationship.”– Eddie Varipapa, Co-Owner, Farming Turtles
How does bio365 do it? Learn more about our science and technology.
Benefits of bio365
Though bio365’s media comes with a higher upfront cost, Farming Turtles’ experience shows that it lowers overall system costs over time by improving crop yields, reducing resource input, and accelerating production cycles. These efficiencies translate into significant long-term revenue gains for growers willing to invest in a premium growing medium.
- Guaranteed Compliance: bio365’s pre-shipment batch testing ensures compliance with FSMA requirements and organic farming principles.
- Improved Consistency: bio365’s quality control and supply chain management measures mean no more rejected or late shipments.
- Better yields and quality: bio365’s horticultural media results in bigger, stronger, tastier, longer-lasting food.
- Improved Efficiencies: bio365’s clean, biologically-active media means speedier, healthier, and bigger harvests with fewer resources and lower costs.
Additionally, bio365’s partnership and expert support have been instrumental in helping Farming Turtles optimize their growing practices, troubleshoot issues, and sustain consistent quality—transforming a supplier relationship into a strategic collaboration.
“Partnering with bio365 was the right decision for Farming Turtles. Any issue we have, they’re instantaneously responsive. Their willingness to work with the end user makes them a cut above the rest.”
“Partnering with bio365 was the right decision for Farming Turtles. Any issue we have, they’re instantaneously responsive. Their willingness to work with the end user makes them a cut above the rest.”– Nick Testa, Director of Cultivation, Farming Turtles
Want to learn more about the benefits growers get from bio365 media? Read this
Key Takeaways
For commercial food cultivators operating at scale, the experience of Farming Turtles highlights the importance of investing in superior growing media that meets organic and safety standards, offers consistent supply, and supports robust plant health. Switching to bio365 could be the key to unlocking better yields, improving food safety compliance, and ultimately, maximizing the value of each harvest.
“The quality is always going to outweigh the higher cost. I would absolutely recommend bio365 to any other grower.”
– Lauri Roberts, Co-Owner, Farming Turtles
In modern large-scale commercial cultivation, quality media is not just a cost—it’s a critical investment in yield, safety, and long-term profitability. Farming Turtles’ success with bio365 sets a high standard for growers looking to elevate their production outcomes through innovative, clean, and performance-driven horticultural solutions.
To learn more about bio365’s engineered growing media and how it can enhance your commercial cultivation operations, visit bio365.com and consider starting a free trial to experience the benefits firsthand.