Producers

Benefits of selling through the Homegrown Co-op

The majority of foods produced in Florida are marketed out of state while much of the food consumed locally is imported. The small farmers' and ranchers' businesses in our region are struggling because they have lost their value-added niche. They are under pressure from the food industry to grow bigger. Explosive growth in the organic market has resulted in greater competition for smaller growers as large 'organic' corporate farms enter the market. What once was a niche market for small-scale food producers has been lost. Since the few remaining individual producers of local, organic and value-added agricultural products in our region are responsible for marketing and distributing their own products; it has become very difficult to retain their competitive edge.

The direct benefits to the Farmers and Vendors are numerous. Homegrown Co-op has a marketing and distributing system via the Internet to help farmers/vendors to sell their produce year round within Central Florida. This reliable distribution system will encourage the farmer/vendor to increase their production level to meet the demand of the consumer. We also work to educate producers and consumers as to the value of local food, growing it and consuming it, with the goal of increasing production.

The producers of the Homegrown Co-op range from very small to mid-sized farms. Some are certified organic through the USDA; some are Certified Naturally Grown; and others are non-certified practicing organic. We develop close relationships with our farmers, and visit their operations often to ensure the highest quality of your foods. See our Online Market for more about each grower.