Herb and Spice Growers Education and Training

Tantalize taste buds by learning to tap into the restaurant market with herb growing

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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

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