How to Supply Organic Herbs to Restaurants
As interest in healthy living continues to grow, people are increasingly curious about products and produce that haven't been sprayed or chemically treated. This carries over to consumers' restaurant choices. For organic suppliers and distributors, this concern translates to good business. Distributors need to be on the ball to bring new restaurants into the organic herb market, but once restaurants begin to purchase organic herbs, they generally continue--finding that this is what their customers want. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Investigate the relevant laws and regulations for operating a food distribution business with your State Department of Health. Distributing organic herbs falls under the jurisdiction of each state's health department. The required information appears on the relevant Department of Health's website.
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Research the guidelines that specify what constitutes "organic produce" according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA oversees food labeling (see Resources) including the decisions about which herbs may carry an "organic" label.
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Find a supplier of organic herbs. If you, the distributor, grow your own supply, make sure that a sufficient quantity exists to meet the demand, at least to start. The supply can increase later as the demand increases.
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Create a product list that lists all the available organic herbs and their prices. Some of the most popular culinary herbs include parsley, basil, dill, mint, chives and thyme.
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Establish a proper storage area and a delivery system for the organic herbs. Both the storage area and the delivery truck must have refrigeration to help preserve the herbs. An insulated ice box suffices in the delivery vehicle for short periods of time.
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Visit restaurants to introduce the organic herbs. Bring literature that demonstrates the business sense of offering organic produce. Bring samples of some foods that include the organic herbs. Some possibilities include savory muffins, pasta and tomato sauce, and baked chicken--all with organic herbs.
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Ask clients to refer your organic herbs distribution service to other restaurants. In the food distribution business, information passes through referrals between people in the business.
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Register your business with the federal and state tax authorities. Make sure that a proper accounting system exists to track credits, debits and taxes due.
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Create a website for your organic herbs business. A company can market best through its website.
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