Growing Opportunities, Inc.
For nearly three decades, this hydroponic business has been supplying fresh vegetables and herbs to Northern New Mexico charter schools, farmers markets, area restaurants, and others in the Rio Grande Valley and central New Mexico.
Steve Martin founded Growing Opportunities, Inc., in 1999 in Alcalde, just north of Española, after studying the method of cultivating plants in water for about two years. Martin, who came from a long line of dairy farmers in upstate New York, attended college in Los Alamos, then moved back to New Mexico after discovering that the lighting on the East Coast was not sufficient for this style of farming.
He eventually purchased 7.5 acres near the river to start his farm. Martin, who was later joined by his lifelong friend and future wife, Kim, began growing various varieties of lettuce, tomatoes, basil, and cucumbers. Their customers include cooperative grocery stores in Albuquerque, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe, local schools, higher-end restaurants, senior citizen centers, and Whole Foods. Kim Martin can often be seen at the Santa Fe Farmers Market.
The couple employs seven full-time and part-time workers who grow produce year-round in warehouses, producing several thousand pounds of vegetables and herbs annually.
Though they’ve grown their business over the years, they still face the common operational challenges many small businesses do, such as rising costs, burnout, and employee retention.
Kim Martin says they get through it by remembering the company’s purpose.
“You realize the ultimate goal is feeding people. It is so gratifying and rewarding. I am the face of the Santa Fe Farmers Market, and having people thank you for the stuff you are producing is gratifying and very humbling,” Kim says. “That keeps me going more than anything else. It’s amazing the feedback you get from people. It’s always been there. It was really prolific during the pandemic, and it hasn’t gone away. I don’t think people take matters such as eating good, quality food for granted anymore.”
The couple came to The Loan Fund in 2013, after a referral from the SBA, to expand their business by building two additional growing facilities.
Kim Martin says she appreciates the long-term relationship with The Loan Fund.
“They have always been there,” she says. “They’re not typical lenders like a bank. They’re personable, they’re helpful, and they’re very flexible when you need them to be. They are just lovely individuals to work with, and it’s been a pleasure the whole time.”