| Garlic growing is a booming industry that's continuing | | | | garlic-is it organic? Was it grown a certain way? Do |
| to grow. There are simply many ways to profit with | | | | you offer garlic-based products? Garlic has many |
| a garlic business. So how can you too be making | | | | medicinal benefits, so consider placing an ad in a |
| good money? Here are seven ways to get you | | | | health magazine. And don't forget about the tasty |
| started: | | | | qualities it has, so place an ad in a cooking magazine |
| 1. Grow what people want | | | | as well. |
| It's simple, and be sure to stick to it-grow what | | | | 5. Produce brokersProduce brokers buy garlic in bulk |
| people want to buy. Before buying your garlic bulbs, | | | | and then resell it to supermarkets and other retail |
| do some research. Talk to businesses and other | | | | outlets. Selling to produce brokers is a great way to |
| people and find out just what they're looking for. If | | | | sell large quantities of garlic at once. You'll be selling |
| you can grow what people want, your garlic will sell | | | | them for wholesale prices, so you won't make as |
| well. | | | | much as if you were selling them retail, but you can |
| 2. Farmers' markets | | | | sell a lot at one time, which leaves you free to do |
| Farmers' markets continue to be popular events that | | | | other things, such as growing more garlic. |
| draw big crowds eager to find the best local produce | | | | 6. Make value-added products |
| from the best local growers. That could be you. Set | | | | Making value-added products is your chance to get |
| up a stand or stall, and put your garlic on display. | | | | creative with garlic. You can make several products |
| Consider putting out a sign-up sheet for a mailing list, | | | | with garlic. For one, you can make a safe garlic-based |
| so you can keep in contact with your customers. | | | | insecticide. You can also make a deer repellant. Or |
| Farmers' markets can fill up fast, so if you're not able | | | | what about taking your "cull" garlic bulbs (ones with |
| to rent a stand or a stall, consider asking another | | | | blemishes or an odd shape) and filling a half-pound |
| grower if you can share one with them. | | | | mesh bag that you tie off at the top. This can make |
| 3. Have really healthy garlic | | | | for an excellent natural flea repellant. There are |
| Not only do you need to grow what people want, | | | | simply many fun products you can make that can |
| but it needs to turn out exactly how your customers | | | | make you great money. |
| want it. You want healthy garlic that people are | | | | 7. Hardneck vs. softneck |
| eager to buy. Be sure your garlic is growing in healthy | | | | There are two main types of garlic: softneck and |
| soil. Only use organic products, such as organic | | | | hardneck. Softneck is what you usually see in |
| fertilizers. Organically-grown garlic simply sells better | | | | grocery stores. For a small grower, it's recommended |
| and often at a higher price. | | | | you stick to hardneck garlic. It can do better in colder |
| 4. Mail-order salesMore and more people are turning | | | | climates, produces larger cloves and has more flavor. |
| to mail-order sales to find the kind of garlic they | | | | For you it's the most profitable garlic type you can |
| want. This is especially a great idea for your garlic | | | | grow. |
| business if you have something special about your | | | | |