Conversations with Colleen Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Miller.

Hi Colleen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Planted Detroit was born with the desire to bring high quality, safely grown food closer to Michiganders 365 days a year, no matter the weather. After years of R&D, our team mastered how to grow flavorful, nutrient-dense greens, microgreens, herbs and edible flowers free of pesticides, herbicides or anything harmful with hydroponic controlled environment technology.

Believing there are macro concerns with the United States food system, Planted Detroit embarks change and strives to be a crucial part of the innovation and transformation happening in the heart of the city.

Food safety is at our core. Our farm has intense biosecurity to keep harmful bacteria away from your food and to ensure we are delivering the highest quality produce to our community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Ha, I wish! Describing Planted Detroit’s road, well, bumpy does not even suffice. Entrepreneurship in a volatile industry and operating a new business concept in Detroit has proven difficult.

One of our biggest struggles was being 100% vertically integrated prior to August 2023. Planted Detroit was not only operating a sophisticated, indoor farm but was also stocking grocery store shelves, running logistic routes as well as sourcing ingredients and packing salad units. That model proved costly, unprofitable and not scalable.

Even after restructuring, one of our biggest challenges today is spreading the word, telling the story, and making sure metro Detroiters are aware that they can have fresh greens, microgreens and ready-to-eat salads delivered right to their doorstep any Wednesday!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My name is Colleen Miller and I am Director of Sales for Planted Detroit. My brother, Tom Adamczyk, is the CEO and Founder. I am proud to work with him on a daily basis and wake up excited to feed our local community with high quality, safe food.

I am obsessed with eating Planted Detroit salads so my passion for selling them comes quite easy. Outside of work, I am known for being a Mom to 6 beautiful children on earth and 1 in heaven. I am most proud of the family I have built with my husband.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Happiness. Being happy impacts everything you do.

Pricing:

• $10.50 per ready-to-eat salad
• $8 3oz five variety greens mix
• $5 1oz garden mix microgreens
• $15 for 25-count edible flower mix
• $5 flat delivery any Wednesday

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.planteddetroit.clm
• Instagram: @planted.detroit
• Facebook: @planted.detroit