A bagful, not a truckload

One go-to resource for organic topsoil is Agromin Premium Soil Products, an Oxnard-based green materials recycler that turns much of Southern California’s lawn and garden clippings into soil, mulch and compost. But for home delivery, Agromin has a 3-cubic-yard (several hundred pounds) minimum, which is why a dump truck’s worth ends up filling many customers’ driveways. What if you need smaller quantities? Turns out Agromin packages its organic potting soil in a 4-quart bag for 99 Cents Only Stores in Southern California. Branded as Organic Grow, the lightweight mix is manufactured by Agromin and distributed by Spring Valley Floral. Chief Executive Bill Camarillo estimates Agromin has sold 1 million bags of the 99-cent soil in two years. It’s just the right amount of dirt to fill a few flowerpots on your front porch or windowsill. “The majority of our market demographics are women who don’t want to lift heavy bags of soil,” Camarillo says.

-- Debra Prinzing