Tell us what you grow
Send crop lists, expected volume windows, and your location. The more specific, the better we can match you to a channel.
For growers
Sell to us. We are the coordination layer.
A resource page for growers in and around Houston. We buy farm-direct, we aggregate across farms to hit institutional volume, and we tell you exactly what paperwork unlocks the channels that pay best.
What we buy
We source farm-direct across chef, meal-program, and institutional channels. If you grow it well and can hold a pack, we can probably move it.
- ·Seasonal vegetables and leafy greens, field-grown and high-tunnel
- ·Root vegetables, alliums, and hardy storage crops
- ·Herbs (fresh cut and bundled)
- ·Specialty and heirloom produce for chefs and private dining
- ·Eggs and pasture-raised protein where supply and food-safety allow
- ·Stone fruit, citrus, and berries in season
- ·Value-added product (jams, ferments, dressings) from verified kitchens
How to sell to us
01
02
Share your food-safety posture
Any GAP audit, food-safety plan, or certified kitchen documentation you already have. If you have none, we'll tell you what unlocks institutional channels.
03
Aggregation match
We slot you into the right channel — chef direct, meal program, or institutional aggregation through FARM2CHEF — based on volume, consistency, and pack.
04
Pack, grade, and cold chain
We agree on pack and grade, delivery cadence, and cold-chain handoff so the buyer gets audit-ready product.
Certification & paperwork
The paperwork below is what unlocks institutional channels. You do not need all of it on day one — but each item you hold widens the door.
- ✓USDA GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) audit — the most common institutional door-opener
- ✓A written farm food-safety plan and water-test records
- ✓Post-harvest handling and cold-storage logs
- ✓Product liability insurance (often required by institutions)
- ✓A certified kitchen / cottage-food registration for value-added product
- ✓Consistent pack and grade, and audit-ready invoicing
Aggregation & cold chain
Institutional buyers receive product they can trust. These are the basics that make a small grower legible to a large buyer.
- →Pre-cool product before pickup; field heat is the largest quality loss
- →Maintain the cold chain from harvest to handoff — log temperatures where possible
- →Standardized pack and grade so an institutional buyer can receive without re-sorting
- →Reliable weekly volume windows; institutional buyers plan menus weeks ahead
Funding & grant categories to look into
We do not administer these programs, but we point growers to the categories most likely to fit a Houston-area operation. Always confirm current cycles and eligibility with the administering agency.
- ·USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) — aggregation and local-food infrastructure
- ·USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and Specialty Crop Block Grants
- ·USDA Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) for processing and marketing
- ·Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for training and technical assistance
- ·State of Texas Department of Agriculture grants (Go Texpan, specialty crop)
- ·NRCS EQIP and high-tunnel cost-share for conservation and season extension
- ·Private and community foundation food-access funding (Houston-area)
Market & community partners
Where growers and eaters gather in our region. Named in a neutral directory tone.
- Harlem River Farms
- Fresh Houwse Grocery / Black Farmer Box
- Ecotone
- The Metallic Foundation
- Urban Harvest
- Acres Homes Farmers Market
- Live Oak Farmers Market
Sell to us
Tell us what you grow.
Send your crop list, volume windows, location, and any food-safety documentation you already hold. We reply within two business days.
Inquiry received
Thank you. A confirmation has been sent to your inbox and our team has been notified. We’ll follow up within two business days.