Where small retailers and market vendors find their next supplier
Practical notes on sourcing wholesale produce, negotiating with distributors, and keeping fresh inventory moving at farmers markets across Canada.
Sourcing & market operations
Focused coverage of the practical side — finding reliable wholesale suppliers, managing perishables, and building lasting vendor relationships.
Canada moves over $9 billion in fresh produce annually through wholesale channels
Terminal markets in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver remain the primary entry points for the vast majority of fresh fruits and vegetables reaching small retailers and farmers market vendors. Understanding how those channels operate changes how vendors negotiate and plan.
Read the sourcing overviewThe produce supply landscape in Canada
What the guides cover
Finding the Right Distributor
Terminal markets vs. regional wholesalers vs. direct-from-farm. Which channel fits which vendor type.
Fresh Inventory Logic
Ordering cadence, cold chain basics, and how to reduce shrinkage without sacrificing selection depth.
Supplier Negotiation
Volume commitments, payment terms, and the seasonal pricing cycles that affect every outdoor market vendor.
Terminal markets still set the price floor for most of Canada
The Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto handles more than 1.5 billion pounds of produce per year, making it the second-largest facility of its kind in North America. What gets priced there on Monday morning tends to echo through every regional wholesale channel by Wednesday.
Read the supplier guideContact DewMarket
Questions about sourcing, corrections to published information, or general inquiries. Expect a response within two business days.
1240 Bay Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M5R 2A7
(416) 555-0142 ·
info@dewmarket.org
Not sure where to start with wholesale sourcing?
The introductory guide walks through terminal markets, regional distributors, and direct-farm channels — with notes on what each option typically costs small buyers.
Start with the basics