New Jersey produce dealer bonds.
From $100.
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 is 1% of the bond amount, with a $100 minimum.
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How much does a New Jersey produce dealer bond cost?
1% of the bond amount, from $100. Enter your amount in the calculator for the exact price.
Three steps. 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:
Apply online
Your business details, the bond amount your license requires, and the effective date — that is the application.
Issued on the spot
No credit check up to $25,000.
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.
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.
You need this bond if you are
Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.
If a claim is made
A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.
The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.
Renewal and term
The premium covers a one-year term from the effective date you choose.
Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.
How to file it
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.
What sets the price
The premium is 1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum: the amount the obligee sets moves the price, not your business profile.
No credit check up to $25,000. Above that, the carrier may run a soft pull, which never affects your score.
Where a check runs, it decides approval; the rate is the same for everyone approved.
One application, 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 →Common questions.
Other New Jersey bonds.
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Produce dealer bond, issued today.
Pricing from $100. Enter your amount and file with the Department of Agriculture the same day.