In a highly competitive field such as the herb and spice growers industry, getting left in the dust by any changes or updates to the market can really hurt. With evolving technology and changes in regulations, it's imperative to stay on top of any news in the seasoning business.

With the trend toward more information readily available, utilize the Internet for all types of herb and spice growing news. Don't limit yourself to just one site; having more websites in your arsenal can give you more knowledge. When determining what sources to locate herb and spice growers news and trends, consider the following:

1. Look to reputable online sites that provide spice and herb growing updates.

2. Subscribe to publications that cater to herb and spice growing companies.

3. Locate online forums about herb and spice producers, and join in the conversation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search out news regarding spice and herb growers from online sites

Locating reputable online sites regarding spices and herbs can provide a wealth of knowledge. If you peruse postings from associations and other groups related to herbs and spices, then you can find a plethora of newsworthy information.

I recommend: Check the calendar of events from the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. Joining an organization such as this one can provide you the opportunity to check out special events, learning about any changes to the industry. Although it's all-encompassing, The Vegetable Growers News has a news room page where you can find herb or spice news. If you scroll further down the page, then you can find news feeds as well, providing more recent agriculture news.

Subscribe to publications geared toward spice and herb producers

Associations and organizations are great ways to keep up-to-date on any changes in the industry. Oftentimes these groups know when changes occur almost instantaneously. By subscribing to their newsletters or other publications, you can read through any changes at your leisure, knowing that you have some of the most current news available.

I recommend: The Herbarist is a publication from The Herb Society of America. This annual publication informs its readers about current herbal topics as well as updates on anything herb related. The American Spice Trade Association offers the ASTA Advocate, which is a monthly electronic newsletter for the spice industry. The American Herb Association sends a quarterly newsletter, focusing on environmental news, in-depth reports and legal news involving herbs.

Utilize discussion boards and forums to learn more about spice and herb growing news

The use of forums and other discussion boards is a creative way to see what customers want to know or learn. You may also find a tidbit about herbs or spices that you might not have known. Think of forums as a way to find a needle in a haystack; you might need to search through a lot of unnecessary information to find the one piece of news your other competitors might not know.

I recommend: Join in on conversations with herb patrons through iVillage and its GardenWeb Herbs Forum. The Spice House is owned by a family of spice wholesalers, and it provides a forum about anything related to spices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're hoping to be one of the top fresh herb suppliers and want to plant your crops outdoors, the check the Farmer's Almanac to learn about the year's upcoming weather patterns. Many members of the agricultural field look to this publication to help determine how the upcoming planting season should pan out.

Oftentimes you find the key to a delicious dish in the seasoning you purchase from herb and spice growers. It's difficult to imagine what food would be like without the different flavors that the hundreds of herbs and spices offer.

Quality spices and herbs can make or break a business that utilizes sweet or savory seasonings. Whether fresh or dried, blended or not, organic or non-organic, there are numerous options to consider. Determine the following before selecting a spice or herb growing company:

1. Locate top-selling herb and spice wholesalers to find affordable prices.

2. Go one step further, and search out organic spice and herb producers.

3. Look for herb and spice growers that import their products to sell nationally.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for wholesale spice growers and herb suppliers, and purchase in bulk

Many herb and spice wholesalers offer their products at a discount if you purchase a multitude of their products. Oftentimes it doesn't need to be the same spice or herb you buy; you might be able to mix and match. Don't hesitate to test out some of the herbs and spices sold by these companies. Compare the prices afterward to see what distributor offers the best deal.

I recommend: A major processor and supplier of herbs, Starwest Botanicals offers more than 250 culinary, craft, therapeutic and Chinese herbs sold in bulk. If you're searching for spice wholesalers, check out MySpicer.com. You can purchase as little (ounces) to as much (pound cases) as you desire. As an extra incentive, discounts are offered and handling charges are omitted if you buy a certain amount. Look into Atlantic Spice Company for gourmet spices, herbs, teas and essential oils.

Buy your seasonings from organic herb and spice growers

Don't be afraid to go organic when perusing herb and spice producers. Organics have been known to be superior in taste and flavor when compared to non-organic seasonings. Keep in mind that organics may cost more, but most times you can also purchase organics in bulk, cutting down on the overall expense.

I recommend: Taylor's Organic Gardens offers hundreds of herbs and spices in its collection, which you can purchase in a multitude of sizes including a bulk shipment. Mountain Rose Herbs prides itself on being a member of the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) organization, which is a prestigious rank upheld by the USDA. You can buy organic herbs and spices in bulk, receiving prorated discounts depending upon how much you purchase.

Scour the seas, and buy from herb and spice growing companies that directly import their products

Some of the best spices and herbs come from foreign countries. But you don't need to worry about contacting these countries directly. Many herb and spice wholesalers act like the middle man, importing the products from countries such as India, Brazil, China and Portugal.

I recommend: Chesapeake Spice Company sells six of its popular spices obtained only from other parts of the world. Click on one of its spices to learn more about its history, origin, types and identification. After making your selection, contact the company directly for order information. If you're in the market for raw herbs used for extracts or powders, check out U.C. Medicine. This company imports herbs from China and other countries to sell within the United States.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're in the market for fresh herbs instead of dried, you may want to consider using indoor herb growers. Finding a localized producer can cut costs since you don't have to worry about shipping fees. When used for culinary purposes, keep in mind that you need three times as much fresh herbs compared to dry herbs.

Fresh herb suppliers can supply restaurants with their fresh herbs and spices, become herb wholesalers to produce vendors, and even supply herb stores with dried herbs for a variety of uses. They can also learn more about alternative forms of herb therapy, like aromatherapy and holistic health, to open up new markets for their herb growing business.

If you've never grown herbs before, you'll need to learn the basics. Then, you can decide to specialize in herbs and spices for the food service industry, aromatherapy products, holistic products or a combination. Look for information from a variety of sources. Think about:

1. Educational and cooperative extensions sites for herb producers.

2. Herb and spice growing associations for seminars and continuing education.

3. Wholesale herb growers' insight and information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Uproot herb educational sites that offer a variety of seminars and information for herb producers

When most people think of herbs and spices, they think of cooking and baking. However, companies also use herbs in cosmetics and perfumes, in aromatherapy and even in holistic medicines, so there are many other options for herb and spice growers when you consider marketing your herbs and spices. Think outside the box, and your spice growing business will soon prosper, but you need to learn about these opportunities through herb and spice growers education and training.

I recommend: The Aromatic Plant Project is a non-profit educational organization that offers information and seminars on aromatherapy, distillation, and more. Kansas State University offers comprehensive instruction on how to begin farming a few acres of herbs. Dr. Arthur O. Tucker, a Research Professor at Delaware State University offers a variety of texts on cultivating and marketing herbs like lavender. The Gaia Center for Herbal Studies & Natural Therapeutics offers a bounty of classes both self-study and in person, in a wide variety of herbal topics.

Dig into herb and spice growers associations to learn about growing and marketing your herb products

Joining an herb and spice growers association can give you educational resources not available to the public. Most associations offer yearly conferences with educational and enlightening seminars that will teach you more about growing your wholesale herb and spice business. They often offer up new industry trends and ideas, too, so you can quickly add products to your wholesale spice growers product lines.

I recommend: The International Herb Association offers a yearly conference with seminars on the business of herb and spice growing companies. The American Herb Association offers classes and seminars throughout the year, and offers and apprenticeship program, too. The American Herbal Products Association offers events and seminars throughout the year, and has past seminars essential to herb growers and producers available on video and DVD.

Bloom with educational information from wholesale herb growers who share their insights

Learning how to grow and wholesale herbs and spices isn't difficult if you turn to experts and educational institutions. They can help you discover how to do everything from turn your herb and spice production into organic operations, to marketing and producing herbs that will entice customers to purchase your wares.

I recommend: The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service offers step-by-step instruction on organic herb growing techniques, plus many other herbal topics. The University of California, Davis offers a comprehensive class on Culinary Herb Production and Marketing.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you begin a large-scale herb and spice wholesalers operation, check health department regulations in your area. If you want to grow organic, you'll need certification too, and that takes time. Learn about these requirements before you start your business, or you may be disappointed to find you can't retail your herbs and spices in your area.

If you plan to operate a business that features herbs and spices, then you should be familiar with some common terms and key words. This can help you provide the best goods to your customers and can allow you to effectively communicate with your vendors. Being knowledgeable with typical terms for herbs and spices can also increase your productivity, as you would know what equipment you would need to purchase. Take time to learn these key words, and watch your profits grow.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Herbs

Herbs are formed from the green, leafy parts of plants and can be used in a dry or fresh form. They are added to food to enhance its flavor.

I recommend: Learn what herbs are best used for at Herbsncures.

Spices

Spices are strongly-flavored dried components of fruits, roots, bark or seeds that are used for enhancing the flavor of food. Unlike herbs, they do not contain any green or leafy parts of the plant, and they are almost always used in a dry state.

I recommend: Learn more about spices at Spices and Medicinal Herbs.

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are framed structures made out of acrylic or glass that allow you to grow herbs and plants even when the weather does not cooperate. These buildings allow sunlight to enter while maintaining a warm temperature, so plants do not become damaged due to frost or inclement weather.

I recommend: Look to The Greenhouse Catalog to learn tips on how to purchase the best greenhouses.

Pinching back

Like flowers, herbs require you to pinch back parts of the plant to keep seeds from forming, which can affect the taste and flavor. Unlike deadheading, which is done after flowering, pinching back is done before the plant flowers. Pinching back herbs keeps the herb oils in the leaves.

I recommend: Learn more about pinching back herbs at Lowe's.

Dehydrators

Dehydrators can be an effective way to dry herbs. They work by setting the temperature and circulation levels at moderately high amounts, all while maintaining a controlled environment. This allows the herbs to dry quickly without ruining them.

I recommend: Learn more about dehydrators at the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Hot frames

Hot frames, also called hot beds, are similar to greenhouses, except that hot frames contain an extra heat source to keep young plants warm. These are ideal starting points when seedlings are too little to plant in the ground due to potential frost.

I recommend: Check out DIY Network from Scripps Networks to learn how to construct hot frames.