9: Why High-Quality Supplier Partnerships Hold the Key to Fresh, Reliable Salads

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Harnois Greenhouse

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“You can't run a business if you have to refund people for bad cucumbers,” says John Karwacki, founder of Inspired Go, who appears on Greenhouse Success Stories to reveal how fresh produce supply chains are truly the backbone of any food delivery operation—and why relentless focus on quality has driven Inspired Go’s explosive growth across North America.

From launching with office deliveries to pivoting during COVID and forging a deep partnership with Dominick DiMucci at Haven Greens, John Karwacki pulls back the curtain on the logistics and data that keep your salad fresh on day five, while Dominick DiMucci shares the real story behind controlled environment agriculture’s glossy image and the hard work it takes to build consistency customers crave. If you think greenhouse-to-buyer partnerships are simple or automated growing is a breeze, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew—and show what it really takes to deliver perfection from greenhouse to doorstep.

Key Takeaways

1. Don’t build a greenhouse and then search for a market—start relationships with buyers before you ever break ground.
2. Let quality drive your decisions. Obsess over your product, and put the plant’s needs first every single day.
3. Invest in the right people upfront—team strength and early collaboration fuel lasting success.
4. Make your operations customer-focused. Gather direct feedback, track retention, and adapt your offerings to what people actually crave.
5. Approach technology as a servant to the plant—not the master. Use automation and innovation only when it strengthens output and flavor.

Memorable Quotes"Our job is to provide the plant what it needs to succeed and thrive, not try to force it down a different path for our own reasons. At the end of the day, the plant comes first.""I think it’s important that we’re transparent about the industry. Controlled environment agriculture is often wrapped up in a nice bow, but it’s a lot of work and difficult to execute on a daily basis. Despite things being controlled and sterile, it’s not hard to unsuccessfully operate a greenhouse.""Investing in the team early is something that, at least for Haven Greens, I think has led to us having so much velocity in year one. People are the drivers for your business, and putting the right people in the right places early really sets you up for success."Connect with Dominick & Haven Greens

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