Industry buying guides
How to source agricultural produce and farm suppliers
Updated
Bottom line
Source agricultural suppliers by agreeing product grade, volume and delivery frequency up front, checking the supplier's capacity across the season, confirming cold-chain handling for perishables, and starting with a trial order before a longer agreement.
Specify grade and volume
State the product, grade or size class, volume per delivery and delivery frequency, for example "60 trays of large eggs, delivered weekly".
Check capacity through the season
Ask the supplier how its volumes change through the year and what it does when supply is short.
Protect the cold chain
For perishables such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy, confirm refrigerated transport and storage from farm to your door.
Start with a trial order
Place one or two trial orders and score quality and punctuality before committing to a longer agreement.
Use AgriTradeCentre
BizKonnector's AgriTradeCentre lists farmers, traders and processors with their commodities, so you can filter by product and location.
Free templates for this guide
- Weighted supplier evaluation scorecard (CSV)
Compare up to three suppliers across eight weighted criteria. Opens in Excel or Google Sheets with formulas ready.
- Supplier verification checklist (CSV)
16 checks across CIPC, SARS, B-BBEE, banking, insurance, POPIA and conflicts of interest, with where to confirm each one.
Find suppliers in the directory
Frequently asked questions
Can small-scale farmers supply corporate buyers?
Yes, if volume and quality are agreed realistically. Many buyers start with a smaller trial volume and grow it, which also supports enterprise and supplier development goals.