Exhibit 5.1

                        Letterhead of Robinson & Cole LLP

                                                               February 18, 2005

Argan, Inc.
One Church Street
Suite 302
Rockville, MD 20850

      Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This opinion is furnished to Argan, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering for resale 954,032 shares
(the " Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.15 per share, that
were issued by the Company on August 31, 2004 in connection with the acquisition
of Vitarich Laboratories, Inc. pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of August 31, 2004, by and between Kevin J. Thomas, Vitarich
Laboratories, Inc., the Company and AGAX/VLI Acquisition Corporation

      We have based our opinion upon our review of such records, documents,
instruments and certificates, and our examination of such questions of law, as
we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering our
opinion. In connection with our opinion, we have, with your consent, assumed the
authenticity of all records, documents, instruments and certificates submitted
to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of
natural persons and the authenticity and conformity to the originals of all
records, documents, instruments and certificates submitted to us as copies.

      This opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United States of
America and the Delaware General Corporation Law, and we disclaim any opinion as
to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We further disclaim any opinion as to any
statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order or other promulgation of any
regional or local governmental body or as to any related judicial or
administrative opinion.

      Based upon the foregoing, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement
becomes and remains effective during the period when the Shares are offered and
sold, and (ii) all applicable securities laws are complied with, it is our
opinion that the Shares covered by the Registration Statement have been validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

      We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to, and to the use of this opinion in connection with, the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

      This opinion is rendered in connection with the Registration Statement.
This opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our prior
written consent. We disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change of law
that occurs, or any facts of which we become aware, after the date of this
opinion.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ Robinson & Cole LLP
                                             -------------------------
                                             Robinson & Cole LLP