The organic and natural food business is expanding into broader demographics. The latest trends in organic food stores include organic pet food, coffee, baby food and wine. Restaurants, delicatessens, grocers and coffee shops are offering natural and organic food products to appeal to the health conscious consumer. The goal is to provide a range of natural and organic food products to promote health and wellness. Encourage new sales by distributing information about the benefits of organic food.

Making the most of organic food may include capitalizing on multiple markets. If you‘re new to the organic food business, start by adding a few staple items. Buy natural food brands to offer in conjunction with existing non-organic food. Stock organic food brands such as spices, oils, flours and dried fruit. Review sales and track inventory of the new organic food items. Reinvest in the natural and organic food brands that consumers purchase. The organic food business is growing; here are a few additional suggestions to consider:

1. Inquire with organic food suppliers for a complete list of products.

2. Know which popular organic food to offer to a larger market.

3. Buy in bulk from organic food companies for additional savings.

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

Ask about a list of organic products from organic food producers

Inquire with organic food stores and vendors with an extensive inventory of products available for purchase. Keep an updated list and browse through the many different types of organic foods. Consider adding new products periodically to maintain a variety of choices.

I recommend: Sun Organic Farm has an extensive list of products that they carry, including specials each month. Organic Valley lists their products alphabetically, making it simple to always know exactly where to find a certain product.

Share information with the consumer about organic food products

Provide information about natural food products. There are many different aspects of organic food products to share with the customers. This shows you're an educated business owner committed to offering healthy lifestyle choices.

I recommend: Local Harvest provides information on how their products are created and why organic foods are healthier. A handy facts page is available from Organic.org offers information on the benefits of organic products.

Purchase multiple quantities in order to save on organic food cost

Buy in bulk to save on shipping costs through a organic food supplier. Bulk purchases ensure enough stock is on hand and can eliminate the expense associated with multiple deliveries.

I recommend: Frontier Natural Products Co-Op has a link that takes you directly to information on bulk purchases in order to save money. Vantage USA is a wholesale food distributor that offers a large list for you to purchase natural food and meat in bulk quantities.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Give out organic food samples for the customers to try as an incentive to sell products.

The natural food business has become increasingly popular over the past decade, as more and more individuals have gained a greater awareness of their health and the foods that they consume. In response to these needs, organic food stores have emerged all over the place, both in neighborhoods and in larger metropolitan areas.

The organic food business represents an increasingly larger share of all food consumption. Furthermore, organic food brands are no longer exclusively available in natural food stores, as many products are also available in regular grocery stores.

1. The natural food business represents a popular choice for many environmentally conscious consumers.

2. Organic food stores offer a variety of organic meats, produce, and other products for sale and consumption.

3. Organic food brands have become more popular as organic food products have experienced significant sales growth.

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

Develop an organic food business through commercialization

Organic food companies are growing by leaps and bounds, due in large part to their ability to capture the interest of consumers. Businesses seeking to produce and market natural and organic food should consider consulting services as a means of commercializing their food concepts in retail outlets. These businesses provide the tools that are necessary to ensure that organic foods are given the best opportunity to succeed in a competitive marketplace.

I recommend: Food Business Resource offers comprehensive services to manage organic food producers and organic food suppliers. Vucurevich Simons Advisory Group offers consulting guidance for organic food stores and the natural food business.

Establish natural food brands through specialized business solutions

Select a consultant that specializes exclusively with organic food companies for all service needs. These needs include marketing and advertising, developing brand images, and e-commerce needs. Consultants in this field understand the requirements of organic food producers, and learn to market to their specific needs.

I recommend: Gourmet Business Solutions offers a variety of products and services for organic food companies. HealthFocus International offers premium consulting services for organizations to encourage responsible brand marketing for organic foods.

Purchase organic food directly from online retailers

A variety of options are available online to purchase organic food products. Many of these websites certify that products are truly organic and safe for consumption. All products are shipped safely and with temperature considerations in mind.

I recommend: Blackwing Quality Meats only sells 100% certified organic meats to consumers. Sun Organic Farm offers a wide variety of natural food brands at competitive prices, with low shipping and handling charges.

Consider organic food producers and distributors for your organic needs

A variety of organic foods are manufactured by a variety of companies. These products are often readily available in many different grocery stores and other retail outlets that target the general public marketplace.

I recommend: Cedarlane Foods distributes their products to many different grocery store chains. Newman's Own Organics offers a line of products online and in natural food retailers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider organic food as a viable alternative to current business objectives to promote economic growth. Sell organic food products in mainstream environments, such as large retail grocery chains, to increase traffic and to sell greater quantities.

Since many consumers are choosing to buy organic food products because of concerns about pesticides and other chemicals in foods, learning about organic farming is an alternative for many farmers and food distributors. For those who want to change their businesses from traditional farms to those that produce organic food products, it will be necessary to receive education and training to be certified as organic food producers.

For those who work with livestock and produce, learning doesn’t end with the completion of a class or a seminar. There will be new products and procedures for organic farmers and distributors which you will need to learn in order to have a successful business. Here are some additional things to consider about organic food education and training:

1. Get organic processing training in seminars and classes to run an organic produce business.

2. Learn about organic certification programs so that you can sell your produce to organic food companies and suppliers.

3. Become a member of organizations that offer natural and organic food business training.

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

Get training at seminars, conferences and classes to grow your organic food business

For those who want to learn about organic farming or who want to market their products at organic food stores, seminars and conferences are a great way to get information and network with companies which distribute organic food brands. Taking courses that specify in teaching farmers and growers about organic farming are also a great way to learn about growing organic and natural products, as well as how to manage your business.

I recommend: Attend the Organic Processing Seminar offered by FaRrms. This seminar covers such topics as basic organic principles, organic certification requirements and maintaining organic integrity. Angelic Organics Learning Center offers organic farmer training for farmers who are beginning to grow organic produce as well as those who want to research organic business planning and marketing ideas.

Receive organic certification so you can sell your organic food products to organic food suppliers

In order to sell your organic produce brands to natural and organic food stores and suppliers, you need to be certified as an organic food producer. There are certain criteria that organic food producers need to meet such as not using hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics and reducing the pesticide use, to get certified. Educating yourself about these requirements will ensure that your farm meets these standards.

I recommend: Get certified to sell, distribute, or process natural food brands and produce by receiving a QAI (Quality Assurance International)certification at NSF. This organization also offers national organic, facility, retailer, restaurant and food security programs as part of its certification services. Food Alliance requires recipients of its certification to meet standards as either farmers or food handlers in order receive certification.

Join organizations that offer information to help you learn about running a natural food business

Becoming a member of organizations for organic food producers is a great way to receive up-to-date information and education about new ways to grow organic products and expand an organic farm business.

I recommend: Visit the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service to read its listings of conferences and seminars as well as access information and resources for organic farmers. Go to the Land Stewardship Project to learn about some of the organic education programs for farm research that present a holistic approach to managing an organic farm. Learn ways to promote safe and healthy food systems with the programs featured at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wholesale organic food products are big business in today's marketplace, so learning about organic food production will be beneficial to your business.