Wholesale Readiness Training

Wholesale Readiness Training is a comprehensive curriculum for produce farmers who are considering starting or expanding wholesale sales to schools, restaurants, grocery stores, distributors, food hubs, or other buyers. Includes recorded sessions, resource materials, and worksheets on six topics:

  • Business planning & marketing mix
  • Scaling up production
  • Connecting with buyers
  • On-farm produce safety
  • Licensing & regulations
  • Pack standards & packaging

Plus two bonus sessions: 

  • Farm financial management
  • Nutrient management

The Wholesale Readiness Training program has completed the live training sessions, but the session recordings are available, linked on this page. All of the homework assignments and supplemental materials are available at the link below. If you are a produce farmer who wants to launch a wholesale enterprise, this course is for you!

Course Materials

Here's where you can find important information about the course: What sessions are coming up, contact information for the project team members, links to access course materials.

Link to Course Materials & Logistics

Curriculum Binder (print-ready PDF)


Questions? Contact: Jane Jewett, [email protected]

Wholesale Readiness Training is offered by Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and U of MN Extension; and funded by a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Fair Use of Materials:

You are welcome to adapt, download, print, distribute any portion of this curriculum, and use these materials as needed. Please do not charge recipients more than the cost of printing and handling. Please give the following credit: "This training course was developed by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and University of Minnesota Extension with funding from a Minnesota Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant. © 2024."

Beginning Farm Case Study

Loon Organics, 2010. This case study is an in-depth look at a farm that was in its early stages in 2010, but ultimately became a successful wholesale farm. Read this case study for insight into the issues confronting a new farm starting out with farmers' market sales and working to find ways to expand.

Wholesale Readiness Introductory Video