Become a Fruit Trader
Fruit traders, also known as fruit distributors, distribute, market and deliver fruit. They act as the middle-man between farmers and supply houses or retail stores and must be knowledgeable in agriculture, marketing and sales. Many people learn how to become a fruit trader while working in the farming industry, as many fruit traders are fruit farmers as well.
Contents
Steps
- Take basic business classes either at a technical school or community college.
- You will need to understand operations, liability coverage, contracts and accounting practices. Many community colleges and technical schools offer these types of classes at relatively low costs. In fact, some state agricultural departments may offer some of the courses for free, so check with your state agricultural department.
- Take agricultural law classes through your local community college or at your state agricultural department.
- Agriculture is a regulated business with specific rules and guidelines regarding fruit grade, method of transportation, storage requirements and freedom from disease or insect infestation. Therefore, knowing the laws that apply to the fruit trader industry are extremely important to success as failure to follow them can result in fines.
- Determine your distribution area if you are starting your own fruit trading company.
- Most fruit brokers distribute fruit locally, although some may have distribution on the national level. It is always best to start out small, at the local level, and expand your business slowly. Keep in mind that the larger the distribution area, the more transportation equipment you will need.
- Purchase or lease transportation equipment if you are starting your own company in the fruit trader industry.
- Some fruit must be transported in refrigerated trucks, while others may be able to be transported in non-refrigerated trucks. Be sure to invest in the proper type of transportation for the fruit you will be brokering.
- Learn the proper method for packaging various types of fruit.
- Improperly packaged fruit can result in damaged fruit that is not suitable to the buyer. Therefore, learning the proper way to package different types of fruit is very important to minimize loss.
- Develop excellent record keeping and organizational methods.
- Agriculture laws require a significant amount of record keeping. Some crops require that each step of the growing process be recorded and failure to do so could result in violations.
- It is important to develop good record keeping and organization skills in order to be sure the records are adequate per state and federal regulations.
- Learn how fruit is graded.
- Because a fruit trader must determine prices for both the buyer and seller, they must be able to examine and test crops. It is important to know how to estimate the value of a crop, determine the grade of the fruit and to recognize disease and insect infestation. Becoming a fruit trader requires extensive knowledge of fruit and the agricultural process.
Tips
- Contract negotiation skills are also a benefit in the fruit trade industry. Fruit traders often must negotiate contracts with farmers and with the companies they are selling the fruit to. Therefore, good negotiation skills are beneficial to success as a fruit trader.
Warnings
- Significant job experience in fruit growing is required for this type of work. No specific educational experience is required, but many fruit trading companies will require either education or significant work experience before hiring you as a fruit trader.
- Many states require special sales permits and licenses before they will allow you to become a fruit trader. Check with your state to determine what is required.
