NJ produce dealer bonds.
From $100. Enter your amount.

New Jersey licenses dealers who buy perishable agricultural commodities from growers on credit, and conditions the license on a surety bond filed with the Department of Agriculture under N.J.S.A. 4:11-19 et seq. The bond pays growers if a dealer defaults. Pricing starts from $100; your exact price appears at the 60-second application, and most applicants qualify at or near the minimum.

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Required for NJ produce dealers buying on credit under N.J.S.A. 4:11-19 et seq.

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Amount sized to your maximum monthly produce purchases — generally up to a $150,000 cap

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From $100 — enter your required amount and see your exact price at application

From $100most qualify at minimumNo SSNin the applicationFastinstant for most applicants

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How it works

Apply to filed in one sitting.

No underwriting queue for the standard produce dealer bond — enter your amount, pay, and file with the Department of Agriculture. Here is the whole thing:

TODAY · 5 MINUTES

Apply online

Your business details, the bond amount your license requires, and the effective date — that is the entire application.

INSTANTLY

Issued on the spot

No credit fields to fill out and no waiting — the executed bond is generated as soon as you pay. Larger amounts may get a quick soft-pull review that never affects your credit score.

SAME DAY

File with the Department of Agriculture

Submit the executed bond with your dealer license application to the Division of Marketing and Development. Wet-ink originals mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the produce dealer bond actually covers

New Jersey protects its farmers from non-payment. Under N.J.S.A. 4:11-19 et seq., commission merchants, dealers, agents, and brokers who buy perishable agricultural commodities from growers on a credit basis must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture — and a license won't issue until a surety bond is on file.

The bond runs in favor of the Secretary of Agriculture for the benefit of the growers you do business with. If a dealer fails to pay for produce received on credit, the affected growers can recover against the bond — it's a payment guarantee for the farm, not insurance for the dealer.

The amount is set by Department rule: for produce dealers it's generally tied to your estimated maximum monthly value of products purchased over the preceding 12 months, with a statutory minimum of $5,000 and a cap commonly cited at $150,000. The Department can also accept a letter of credit or other securities in place of a bond. Confirm your required figure on your license paperwork.

N.J.S.A. 4:11-19 et seq. (Agricultural produce licensing)New Jersey requires dealers, commission merchants, agents, and brokers who buy perishable agricultural commodities from growers on credit to be licensed and bonded with the Department of Agriculture under N.J.S.A. 4:11-19 et seq. The bond runs in favor of the Secretary for the benefit of growers; it must be at least $5,000, and for produce dealers the amount is generally tied to the maximum monthly value of products purchased over the prior 12 months, commonly capped around $150,000. The Department may accept letters of credit or other securities in lieu of a bond. Confirm your amount on your license application.

You need this bond if you are

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A produce dealer or commission merchant buying from NJ growers on credit

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A broker or agent handling perishable agricultural commodities on credit

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Renewing your dealer license with the Department of Agriculture

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Increasing your purchase volume into a higher bond amount

Five minutes, issued on the spot.

Submit the application with the bond amount your license requires — the executed bond is generated instantly, ready to file.

Start the application →

FAQs

Common questions.

If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.

How much is the New Jersey produce dealer bond? ▾

Pricing is variable — set by the bond amount and your credit tier — starting from $100. The bond amount itself is set by Department of Agriculture rule, generally tied to your maximum monthly purchase volume, with a $5,000 minimum and a cap commonly cited at $150,000. Enter your figure at the 60-second application to see your exact price; most applicants land at or near the minimum.

Why does New Jersey require it? ▾

To protect growers. If a dealer buys produce on credit and fails to pay, the bond lets the affected farmers recover. It runs in favor of the Secretary of Agriculture for the benefit of the growers you transact with.

Do I need a license if I pay cash on delivery? ▾

The licensing and bonding requirement targets dealers buying on a credit basis. If you are unsure whether your transactions trigger it, check with the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Marketing and Development — and send us your license paperwork once you have the required amount.

Is there a credit check? ▾

The application collects no credit information, and most applications approve instantly. If a check ever runs — typically only for larger bond amounts — it is a soft pull that never affects your credit score.

Can I post a letter of credit instead? ▾

The Department accepts several forms of security — a surety bond, an irrevocable letter of credit, certificates of deposit, or U.S. government bonds. A surety bond is usually the most economical, since your premium starts from $100 rather than tying up the full amount.

Related bonds

Other New Jersey bonds.

Produce dealer bond, issued today.

Five-minute application, pricing from $100. Enter your amount and file with the Department of Agriculture the same day.

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