As the interest in gluten free, wheat-free flours intensifies, coconut flour has shot up in popularity. This means that if you run a food-based store, restaurant, or bakery, you are going to have quite a bit of interest in buying coconut flour wholesale.

The thing is, this can be a rather tricky market to venture into. For starters, the interest in coconut flour is fairly new. As such, it can be difficult to find the right kind of support when you are looking to buy this ingredient in bulk. If you would like to sidestep such issues follow the guidelines below.

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Organic vs. Non-Organic – Check Certification

There is no denying that organic food products are more sought after than ever before. Thus, a significant number of coconut flour manufacturers and suppliers claim to provide organic flour. However, you shouldn’t take them at their word.

After all, the only reason that you would choose an organic coconut flour is so that you can also market it as such. Nevertheless, you need to back up these claims. Thus, it is up to you to make certain that a supplier is actually selling you wholly organic coconut flour.

This typically means looking for an USDA certified organic label. This means that every element of the coconut flour is organic. Labels like all-natural or simply “organic” don’t actually give you much information about how the coconuts were grown or how they were processed.

If a supplier or manufacturer has the USDA organic certification, you should check with them if you can use it on your own products as well.

coconut flour on a wooden table

The Production Process – Know Your Audience

Coconut flour can be produced in two ways – the dry process and the wet process. So, why is this important for you to know? Well, each production process produces coconut flour with different protein and fiber levels.

The dry process involves drying ground coconut meat. This is followed by the extraction of the coconut oil from the coconut meal. You are then left with coconut meal. The meal is pulverized until the particles become small enough to be considered as coconut flour.

The dry method produces coconut flour that is rather high in coconut flour. As such, it works quite well for baked goods.

The dry method is where the meat is extracted along with the coconut milk. Once the coconut milk is extracted, you are left behind with a residue. The residue is ground until it forms coconut flour. This coconut flour has a higher dietary content. As such, it is more suitable for people who are trying to consume foods with a lower glycemic index.

Now, this is significant because most people select coconut flour because they are on a specific diet. This means that they could be looking to boost he protein content of their diet or try to eat more fiber. Due to this, it is important to know what your audience is looking for.

Then, look into how a particular manufacturer makes their coconut flour. This way, you will be able to offer more honest information about the nutrient value of your coconut flour. Such information can also be useful for those in the restaurant  or baking sector who are specifically looking to make high-protein or high-fiber foods.

Know Your Grades

Here is something that you will only learn once you begin to research coconut flour manufacturers and suppliers – there are two grades of coconut flour. Now, many suppliers will only have just one kind. Others, however, separate their coconut flour into Grade A and Grade B batches.

Grade A is made from the white coconut meat. As such, it is pure white. Grade B, on the other hand, contains a fair amount of the coconut skin as well. Due to this, the flour looks quite brown.

Now, Grade A is what most people use for baking and cooking purposes as it is of a higher quality. The Grade B contains coconut aromatics and as such is better used for skincare or non-food related purposes.

Examine Purity Levels

You need to make certain that your coconut flour is only made from coconut meat. As such, it should contain any additives, preservatives, flavorings, etc. It should also be free of any other kinds of flours – regardless of whether they are wheat-based or not.

First and foremost, you should only offer pure coconut flour to your consumers as it is a higher quality product. This means that it will taste better and will work in recipes the way that it is supposed to. You also have to consider the safety aspects.

Many people turn to coconut flour because they can’t consume gluten or wheat of any kind. Then, there are other intolerances to consider – lactose, nuts, etc. Thus, it is important to ensure that the coconut flour doesn’t contain anything that can compromise someone’s health or digestive system.

handful of coconut flour

Nutrition Labels

These days, consumers are incredibly interested in nutritional labels. Most people who use coconut flour are on the keto diet and need to check the fat content of the flour. Others are trying to minimize saturated fats, sugars, etc. Then there are those who want to calculate the calorie content.

It is because of this that you should use a supplier that regular tests for the nutritional content of their flour. This allows you to provide your consumers with accurate and up-to-date information. This is especially significant if you are selling smaller packages of coconut flour for cooking, baking, etc.

Allergy Information

On a side note regarding nutrition labels, you should be aware that you must provide allergen information for your consumers. Coconut allergies are rare, but not unheard of. Therefore, you must add an allergen warning on any products that you want to sell.

Despite being a fruit, The Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) identifies coconut as a tree nut. This is because individuals who are allergic to tree nuts may be more likely to have a coconut allergy as well.

Due to this, you will be required to label your product as “contains tree nuts” under FALCPA. In some cases, “contains coconuts” may suffice as well.

Packaging and Shelf-Life

Coconut flour may be packaged in larger quantities for restaurants or bakeries to use. Manufacturers or suppliers may also send the flour to like this if you wish to package the coconut flour yourself. Otherwise, you will find that you can get smaller ones that weigh a couple of pounds each, perhaps even less.

When getting the packaging, you should consider the shelf-life of your coconut flour. In general, smaller amounts of coconut flour last longer. Here, they can last for up to a year if they are stored properly. Bulk quantities may only be good for six months or so.

Regardless, it is important to ensure that the coconut flour is packaged properly. It should be placed in airtight container or bag and should be tightly sealed at all times. This will ensure that it lasts longer and will not be contaminated in any way.

At the same time, you should check on the storage conditions of the coconut flour before it is shipped to you. Ideally, coconut flour should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. This reduces the risk of deteriorating quality.

Labeling Rights

Finally, you should consider the labeling rights that every manufacturer or supplier stands by. This is because these can have legal ramifications for you later on.

If you are simply looking to utilize the coconut flour for your own purposes, then labeling isn’t an issue. However, if you would like to sell the coconut flour under your brand in any shape or form, then you need to check that you can get a private label.

These are the top things to know about buying coconut flour wholesale. Now that you are aware of them, you will be able to make well-informed purchasing decisions.