Buyers often prefer to see this sheet before they talk to a producer. You can fax it to the buyer's office. Project a professional image through a growers manager or representative. This person should be well-informed about production, supply, produce condition, and the farms involved, and should be confident in the cooperatives' ability to meet the buyers needs. Work out the the details of the sale with the buyer, like volume, size, price, delivery dates, and labeling requirements.
Some buyers have a set of written requirements for growers.
Keep in touch with the buyer. Growers need to keep the buyer informed about potential problems so that buyers can look elsewhere for a product if there is a supply problem. Cooperative Development Services CDS is a non-profit organization founded in 1986 which provides professional business consulting for cooperatives and communities throughout the Upper Midwest. Much of CDS's research and consulting supports value-added agriculture and sustainable food systems. This is a summary of CIAS-sponsored research on sustainable, integrated, and alternative agricultural systems.