Do your friends and family rave about your homemade chowder, blueberry jam, ice cream, fudge or other special food product? They say you should sell it and make a fortune. You wonder if they’re right, and if you have the drive and personality to run a business.
Participants of the Recipe to Market Intensive workshop will learn about licensing, how to prepare and package their food product safely, to access potential profits, and discover some of the resources available to support them in business development.
This program is for individuals currently operating a value-added business or those seriously considering one. Participants must have a specific food product or recipe in mind and are expected to attend all sessions.
Instructors:
- Dr. Beth Calder, Extension Food Science Specialist, Assistant Professor, School of Food & Agriculture, University of Maine
- Dr. James C. McConnon, Extension Business and Economics Specialist, Professor, School of Economics, University of Maine
- Louis Bassano, PhD, Extension Professor
- Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Food & Nutrition Extension Educator, UMaine Extension, Cumberland County
Our intensive workshops will introduce participants to important topics that an aspiring entrepreneur needs to consider before starting a food business. Topics that will be presented include: opportunities and challenges of being a food entrepreneur, the specialty food industry, business basics, an overview of the product development process, licensing and regulations, and food safety concerns.
Workshops will be helpful to a wide range of individuals who are thinking about starting a food business in Maine. Examples include:
- A restaurant owner or chef who wants to market a special chowder to local retail stores
- A person who wants to produce and market a unique chocolate creation developed from an old family recipe
- A retired teacher who wants to create a conserve made from Maine’s wild blueberries and cranberries
- A farmer or gardener who wants to develop and market a special hot sauce and salsa
- A farmer who wants to develop a snack food product
