Fruit wholesale from a small cold storage unit

Farmers market and roadside stand vendors, food trucks, small food producers, bakeries, juice makers and community groups.

You earn the markup between your bulk price and the case or pallet price you charge. Buying seasonal fruit at peak supply and selling steadily can improve your margins.

• Buying and negotiating in volume
• Stock rotation and cold storage handling
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Building relationships with repeat buyers

• Check whether your state or county requires a food warehouse or wholesale food license, and whether the premises need an inspection
• Your landlord and your city's zoning must allow food storage and customer pickup at the unit
• Cooler and electricity costs can be high, and a power failure can ruin stock; consider spoilage cover
• Check general liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire
• Check state sales tax registration and whether buyers will give you resale certificates

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the unit you rent, the refrigeration you need and how much stock you buy. Cooler and electricity costs can be high, so consider spoilage cover for power failures.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your buyers, the volumes you handle and the fruit you stock. These are estimates only, and actual results depend on your prices, costs and customer base.

Check whether your state or county requires a food warehouse or wholesale food license, and whether the premises need an inspection. Also confirm your landlord and city zoning allow food storage and customer pickup, and check insurance and sales tax rules.