How do I check which suppliers a farm market stand buys resale produce from?

Start with the paperwork. Request purchase invoices and statements for a full season, sorted by supplier, and compare them with the sales records. This shows how much of the stand’s income depends on bought-in goods, which suppliers matter most and whether prices rise during the year. A stand that is mostly resale is a different business from one that is mostly its own harvest, and the margins differ.

Then talk to the suppliers, with the seller’s permission. Ask how long they have supplied the stand, whether there is any written arrangement and whether they would continue with a new owner. Some deals rest on friendship and a handshake. Others involve payment terms or pickup routines the seller has built over time.

Look at the shelves, too. Check quality, freshness and how items are labelled, because customers often assume everything is local. Ask the seller how this is handled and whether there have been complaints. Your lawyer can advise you about labelling expectations, and your accountant can read the inventory and margin figures with you before you decide. If the seller buys from several growers, ask whether prices are agreed in advance or set at each delivery, since that affects how steady your margins will be.

Key takeaways

• Match a season of supplier invoices to what is on the shelves.
• Speak to key suppliers about whether they will continue.
• Check how bought-in items are labelled for customers.