Goa's 'Saladbaba' Grows 5-Acre Farm Into $3M Empire

When a British couple asked 14-year-old Janardan Khorate to move to London in 2003, he had no idea he'd one day run a multimillion-dollar organic farming empire back in Goa.

David Grower and Michaela Kelemen fell in love with Goa during their visits from London in the late 1970s. By 1993, they'd started Ambrosia Organic Farm on just five acres in Siolim, growing tomatoes, capsicum, and exotic vegetables for local restaurants.

Young Janardan would tag along during their farm visits, walking the fields with the couple. They grew so fond of him that they offered him a new life in London, promising education and opportunity. His parents agreed, and everything changed.

In 2008, David and Michaela made an extraordinary decision. They handed management of Ambrosia to Janardan, now going by John, trusting the young man completely with their life's work.

John didn't disappoint. He started collaborating with farmers across India, sourcing apples from Himachal Pradesh and expanding the product line far beyond salad vegetables. By 2016, when Ambrosia joined Amazon, the business exploded beyond Goa's borders.

Today, the farm spans 135 acres and works with 4,000 registered farmers. The company offers 59 products, from blueberry peanut butter to ready-to-eat rice cakes that tourists pack in their luggage. Last year's turnover hit $3 million.

Among their bestsellers are rice cakes made from puffed brown, red, and black rice with a nine-month shelf life. Russians, Italians, and Germans can't get enough of them. The apple cider vinegar sourced from Himachal farmers sells out regularly.

The Ripple Effect

Ambrosia now ships nationwide and exports to Japan and Taiwan, with Middle East expansion planned for this year. But John hasn't forgotten where he came from.

The company uses its profits to provide books, uniforms, and school supplies to children across Goa and the Maharashtra border. Many of these schools serve orphans and farmers' children who need support the most.

What started as a tiny vegetable patch supplying restaurant salads has become one of India's pioneering organic ventures. Locals still call John "Saladbaba," but now the nickname carries weight far beyond Goa's beaches.

"None of this was planned," John reflects. "I never imagined my life would turn out like this."

Sometimes saying yes to an unexpected opportunity changes everything.