Conventional Wholesale

Conventional and wholesale marketing alternatives include large lot direct sales, wholesalers, shippers, packers, brokers, commission merchants, cooperatives, etc. These marketing channels often involve a middleman and usually minimize the involvement of the growers with regards to marketing the crops or products. These methods are best suited to crop growers with considerable acreage who may have difficulties selling all of their large volumes of products through direct marketing methods.

In addition, growers who produce crops whose harvest requires large amounts of labor or specialized equipment, or who lack the equipment and facilities to handle their crops, or who do not want to get involved in the marketing of the crops, may find wholesale marketing methods very useful. Appendix A provides a listing of conventional marketing outlets available in San Diego County for most agricultural products grown locally. Care should be taken in selecting those who handle the sale of your agricultural products. Unscrupulous consignment sellers and wholesalers have bilked many unsuspecting new growers out of much of the profits that they should have received.

More specific information about conventional or wholesale marketing methods can be obtained from the University of California Cooperative Extension Office.