Farming For Profit: 13 Crops That Bring In The Most Revenue

Farming can help you generate high profits, provided you know what crops to grow. Whether you’ve got a backyard, greenhouse, or small farm, you can earn significant income by planting the suitable crops that bring in the most revenue and commodity items.

This article will walk you through the 13 best cash crops you must grow on your small farm to generate high returns.

13 High-Value Crops For Small Farms

Whether you are just getting started or want to add a profitable crop to your established farm business, here are the 13 high-value cash crops to grow:

1. Mushrooms

Believe it or not, mushroom farming is a lucrative business. They’re high-value cash crops, particularly oyster mushrooms, and can easily and quickly be grown even in small spaces. Perfect for urban growers, they can take anywhere from six to eight weeks from start to harvest.

Although the prices vary for each variety, you can sell five pounds of a bag of Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms for anywhere from $26 to $33.

2. Microgreens

Microgreens are another high-value cash crop you can grow in spaces as small as basements, shipping containers, or garages. Best for urban growers and small farms, they have increasingly low startup costs and a quick growing cycle (turnaround time).

This means you can harvest and sell your first cash crop within a few weeks (anywhere between 2-3 weeks top). Microgreens, like mushrooms, have a limited shelf life and can be sold from $20 to $50 per pound.

3. Ginseng

If you have adequate time and ideal growing conditions, ginseng can be a perfect crop for additional profits. 

The crop has two main types, i.e., American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), and offers a range of medicinal benefits. For example, it helps lower blood sugar, increases energy, improves cognitive function, helps prevent flu, and combats inflammation.

This small, long-lived forb can easily take five to eight years to mature and can be sold at a relatively higher price, typically $400 per pound or more, to Asian buyers.

4. Lavender

Lavender is commonly known for its fragrant oils used in soaps, perfumes, etc. So, it can be highly profitable when grown for commercial purposes. Although it requires well-drained soil, you can grow lavenders in different climates.

You can easily make $120,000/acre by selling dried or fresh lavenders. And that figure can grow considerably if you create value-added products such as lotions or soaps. Typically, lavender plants take three to four years to mature.

5. Saffron

It sells for $5000 per pound, making Saffron one of the world’s most valuable and expensive herbs. Although growing Saffron can be challenging and labor-intensive, you’ll be rewarded with high return-on-investments (ROIs) when you succeed.

Harvesting time is around eight weeks, from seeding to reaping. When it comes to revenue, one acre can yield ‘three pounds’ of the saffron crocus, worth anywhere from $15000 to $30000 per acre.

6. Goji Berries

Popularly known as a superfood or wolfberries, goji berries grow mainly in China. However, they’re equally well-adapted and famous in North America, including the United States.

They help treat various health problems like diabetes, fever, age-related eye conditions, and hypertension.

While goji berry plants can take three years to mature, you can accelerate the process by purchasing bare-root berry plants that reach full production in two or fewer years. You can sell it for $20 per pound or more easily.

7. Wasabi

Wasabi or Japanese horseradish is like gold—consumers must pay a lot. It can easily fetch around $160 per kg at wholesale, making it one of the most high-valued crops you can grow.

The plant is increasingly hard to grow in America as it’s grown in waterbeds—a farming method that’s uncommon in North America. It will be mature enough for harvesting within fifteen months to two years.

8. Bonsai Plants

Bonsai plants need little space to grow like small pots. It can take you anywhere between two and three years to reach harvesting.

However, once your plant matures, you can sell it for $20 or $260. If you train your bonsai plants well, you can make even higher profits, typically $10,000 or more.

9. Bamboo

The most profitable crops aren’t always edible. Bamboo is a fine example—it’s a fast-growing, sustainable plant that makes an exceptional cash crop.

Although it can help you bring generous revenue, it takes ample time (typically five to seven years) to grow and mature. Container-grown bamboo can be sold on average for $30. You can place 2500 plants on a quarter-acre and sell for $30, helping you make $75,000 easily.