Fresh Culinary Herbs For Export
Answered by: Richard Alan Miller
Question from: Michael Forde
Posted on: January 21, 2005

I am a bulk producer of thyme, marjoram & rosemary on the tropical Caribbean Island of Barbados. Our unique soil structure and geographical location produces a product with a strong aroma and flavor. At present we produce one ton of thyme, half ton of marjoram and 100 lbs of rosemary per week for our local market, year round. We have developed the production logistics and we are capable of expanding our production to over ten tons of products per week. We are now actively seeking wholesalers/ distributors in North America to purchase our fresh, culinary herbs. Can you direct us to a group of potential buyers.

This is a hard one for me to respond to as there are so many smaller, independent brokers who do this type of thing. I normally would get onto the Internet and find some of the larger ones in each region, but this is something you can do for yourself.

Going into my database, I found some one whom I met at an Acres, USA Conference several years ago:

P.G. (Gere) Johansing Jr., Pure Food Technology, 11401 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley, CA, 92306; tel. +1-619-949-4290.

As I have him listed, he is strictly organic, and deals only with fresh produce. Please remember, this is not my background. I never worked produce, as it was like "passing in football." Of the three things that can happen, two of them are bad... And the markets are literally less than 1/10th normal sales for each crop mentioned.

There is also the Herb Growing and Marketing Network at www.herbnet.com. This will link you to sites that are uploaded the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month. It should also link you directly with other sites offering the services you seek.

California has a directory of brokers for the fresh herb and spice markets, called the CCOF Membership Directory. It can be obtained by writing:

CCOF Membership Directory, 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060; tel. +1-831-423-2263.

As another reference, please check out http://www.metrofarm.com/. Based out of Chicago, this group does an inventory each week, with what is needed and what is for sale. If you still have some problems, let me know and I will get on it with some better resources.

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