This document provides guidance on starting a local produce business. It recommends first researching whether the local community can support such a business by assessing existing farmer's markets and roadside stands. A business plan should then be created covering what will be grown and how it will be sold and marketed. Necessary equipment for selling includes tents, tables, signage and packaging. The business will also need to address legal matters like taxes, insurance, and customer service policies. With proper planning, a local produce business can be a successful way for gardeners to share their crops with the community.

1. Start
a
Local
Produce
Business
If
you
love
gardening
and
consistently
have
good
crops,
consider
star6ng
a
local
produce
business.
More
and
more
people
are
seeking
local
fresh
produce
instead
of
supermarket
or
processed
foods.
It’s
the
perfect
6me
to
make
some
cash
from
your
hobby.
If
your
produce
is
top
quality,
you
could
charge
a
premium
to
high
end
restaurants
and
other
consumers.
Research
–
Will
Your
Community
Support
a
Produce
Business?
The
first
step
to
star6ng
a
local
produce
business
is
to
make
sure
there’s
a
market
for
it
in
your
community.
Do
you
have
a
farmer’s
market?
Would
it
make
sense
to
set
up
a
roadside
stand?
Does
your
community
already
have
a
few
roadside
stands?
If
so,
what
do
they
sell?
Can
you
sell
something
different
or
beFer
than
them?
Take
some
6me
to
research
your
market
and
your
compe66on.
Also
explore
what
it
would
cost
you
to
grow,
harvest
and
sell
your
produce.
How
much
could
you
sell
it
for?
This
will
help
you
es6mate
profits
and
make
good
business
decisions.
Ge=ng
Started
–
What
Do
You
Need?
Ideally,
once
you’ve
done
your
research,
you’ll
create
a
business
plan.
This
plan
will
include
what
you’re
going
to
grow
and
how
you’re
going
to
sell
it.
It
will
also
include
how
you’re
going
to
market
your
produce
business.
You’ll
also
want
to
make
sure
you
have
the
necessary
land
and
tools
to
grow
and
harvest
your
produce.
And
you’ll
want
to
make
sure
you
have
the
equipment
to
sell
it
as
well.
For
example,
if
you’re
selling
at
a
Farmer’s
Market
then
you’ll
need:
*
A
truck
for
hauling
food
and
equipment

2. *
Tent
*
Table
*
Signage
*
Packaging
for
the
food
*
Cashbox/credit
card
reader
While
you
don’t
need
a
formal
educa6on
or
training
to
start
a
local
produce
business,
you
do
need
a
plan.
You
need
to
know
what
you
can
sell,
how
much
you
can
sell
it
for
and
how
you’re
going
to
sell
it.
MarkeCng
Your
Produce
Business
Marke6ng
your
produce
business
will
likely
involve
a
couple
of
tac6cs.
You’ll
have
signage
at
your
roadside
stand
and
booths.
Also
look
into
pos6ng
flyers
around
town
and
adver6sing
in
natural
food
newsleFers.
Consider
crea6ng
a
website
for
your
business.
Offer
an
online
newsleFer
and
special
coupons
or
promo6ons.
You
could
partner
with
different
growers
of
different
items
and
create
a
special
home
delivery
service
of
fresh,
organic
produce
that
people
pay
for
in
advance.
When
done
correctly
and
with
enough
interest,
people
can
start
to
request
what
they’d
like
to
grow,
which
is
paid
for
in
advance.
This
is
a
win-­‐win
for
the
growers
and
their
customers.
The
LegaliCes
There
are
a
few
legal
items
you’ll
want
to
take
the
6me
to
plan.
In
your
business
plan
you’ll
want
to
cover
how
you’re
going
to
manage
if
there
are
bad
crops.
You
can
get
insurance
to
cover
that
risk.
You
will
also
need
a
system
to
collect
payment
and
record
income
and
taxes.
Finally,
consider
how
you’re
going
to
handle
customer
service
issues.
Star6ng
a
fresh
produce
business
is
a
dream
come
true
for
many.
They
enjoy
growing
and
providing
people
with
the
best
that
nature
can
provide.
If
this
is
your
dream,
take
the
6me
to

3. plan
it
carefully
first.
Know
your
market
and
what
it
can
support
and
then
grow
it.
To
your
success!