August 2015 — NC Growing Together has released a new report entitled How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery. It is intended for small to medium-scale North Carolina egg producers who are interested in expanding their markets into North Carolina grocery stores.
There is growing demand for locally-produced eggs in North Carolina. Retail outlets like grocery stores provide an opportunity for producers to meet this demand while potentially expanding their consumer base. Says Krista Morgan, Lowes Foods Locally Grown Accounts Representative and NCGT Liaison, “Customers can see and taste the difference in local pastured eggs, and once they try a dozen they buy more. So I am thrilled that we can support producers and make customers happy at the same time!”
The report provides guidance on what a producer needs to know before approaching a retailer, the vendor setup process at the retailer, considerations for packaging/labeling for retail markets, and preparation for a producer’s first delivery to the retailer.
Read the report on the Resources for Producers page of the NCGT website.
Egg producers may also be interested in attending NC State’s Small-Scale Egg Production in a Range Setting Field Day on September 24. More information can be found here. Registration required by September 4.
This article originally appeared in the August 2015 NC Growing Together Newsletter.