Certified organic farm selling to shops and restaurants

Independent grocers, restaurants, box scheme operators, food co-ops and local distributors, plus some direct customers.

You sell by the case, pound or box on regular weekly orders, often at a higher price than non-organic produce. Storage crops and greenhouse or tunnel crops help spread income across the year.

• Organic crop or livestock management
• Record keeping and planning for certification
• Sales, pricing and reliable delivery to buyers

• Organic certification is not a general business licence, but you need it before you can label or sell products as organic. Check requirements, costs and record keeping with an accredited certification body, and any provincial rules (Quebec has its own)
• Check with your province and municipality whether any registration, permit or farm business registration is needed to operate and sell, and whether zoning allows your use of the land
• Food safety expectations from buyers, such as CanadaGAP, and any federal licensing or registration (for example with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) if you trade across provinces or export
• Farm liability, equipment and crop insurance, and workers' compensation (WCB/WSIB) once you hire seasonal staff, as rules vary by province
• Land costs, financing and the risk of a poor season or lost buyer
• Income is seasonal, so plan for winter cash flow

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your land, equipment and what you grow or raise. These are estimates only, so check land costs, financing and certification expenses before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your crops, buyers and the season. It is an estimate, and income is seasonal, so plan for winter cash flow and the risk of a poor season or lost buyer.

You need organic certification before labelling or selling products as organic, so check requirements with an accredited certification body and provincial rules (Quebec has its own). Also check farm registration, zoning, buyer food safety expectations such as CanadaGAP, and CFIA rules if you trade across provinces.