Processing & Value-Added

 

 

Arizona Resources

Colorado Resources

New Mexico Resources

Utah Resources

Organizations and Web Resources for Processed Foods

Starting a New Food Processing Business

Marketing Processed Foods

Incubator Kitchens

Case Studies and Success Stories

Funding Resources

 

*Each resource within the Four Corners region will be marked with an asterisk

 

See also:

 

 

Arizona Resources

 

*Linking Arizona’s Sense of Place to a Sense of Taste: Marketing the Heritage Value of Arizona’s Place-Based Foods

This publication looks specifically at the traditional and native foods unique to Arizona. This book not only tells the historical story of Arizona’s heritage foods; it examines the role these foods can play in a modern era.

http://www.environment.nau.edu/publications/AZHeritageFoods.htm

 

*Northern Arizona University: Center for Sustainable Environments: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Research

The Center for Sustainable Environments is currently involved in several projects focused on sustainable agriculture and promoting local food security.

http://home.nau.edu/environment/food.asp

 

Colorado Resources

 

*The Business Incubator Center

The Business Incubator Center is located in Grand Junction, CO. To meet the needs of culinary entrepreneurs, a fully equipped licensed commercial kitchen is available. This is a shared use facility where food producers can legally prepare, process, cook and store perishables. It is a fully licensed facility for catering, food preparation, and specialty food production.

http://www.gjincubator.org/campus/kitchen.htm

 

*Checklist for Start-Up Food Processors

Starting a food processing business involves a doable but sometimes difficult process. Checklist for Start-Up Food Processors is a basic list of critical steps in setting up a food processing business. Each step will involve various contacts before it is complete.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1178305553581&pagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout

 

*Colorado Department of Agriculture: List of Kitchen Spaces Available to Rent

This is a list of certified kitchens in the state of Colorado that are available to rent for the processing of value-added food products. The list of kitchen spaces to rent is at the bottom of the “co-pack” page.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1178305633281&p=1178305633281&pagename=CDAGWrapper#Kitchens

 

*Do’s and Don’ts for Food Processors

This is a resource page produced by the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Division of Markets. This guide will help you properly analyze what to do and what to avoid when developing a food processing business.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1178305553692&p=1178305553692&pagename=CDAGWrapper

 

New Mexico Resources

 

Food Business in New Mexico

This publication from the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension outlines how to create a food processing business.

http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/E-510.pdf

 

*New Mexico: Taste the Tradition Program

The NEW MEXICO—Taste the Tradition® and NEW MEXICO—Grown with Tradition® Logo Program was developed by NMDA in 2000 in efforts to help identify and promote all New Mexico agricultural products (food, fiber, wine, produce, nuts, nursery products, and livestock) through the use of one, easily recognizable logo.

http://nmdaweb.nmsu.edu/marketing-and-economic-development/New%20Mexico%20Taste%20the%20Tradition%20and%20New%20Mexico%20Grown%20with%20Tradition.html

 

*South Valley Economic Development Center

SVEDC is a small business incubator in the Albuquerque area with a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen suitable for processing organic produce. The kitchen is available for rent 24-7, and they are hoping to begin offering trainings in food handling and food safety for food processors.

http://www.bernco.gov/live/departments.asp?dept=7147

 

Utah Resources

 

*Value-Added Agricultural Products: An Introduction

This resource guide was developed by the Diversified Agriculture Consortium, which is based in Utah.

http://diverseag.org/files/uploads/marketing/Intro-VAT-1%203.pdf

 

Organizations and Web Resources for Processed Foods

 

Pathway to Organic for Processors

This is a resource website devoted to helping organic processors access information about; starting an organic business, organic certification, regulatory issues, marketing, and production advice. This website has been put together by the Organic Trade Association.

http://www.howtogoorganic.com/index.php?page=processors

 

Starting a New Food Processing Business

 

*Checklist for Start-Up Food Processors

Starting a food processing business involves a doable but sometimes difficult process. Checklist for Start-Up Food Processors is a basic list of critical steps in setting up a food processing business. Each step will involve various contacts before it is complete.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1178305553581&pagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout

 

*Do’s and Don’ts for Food Processors

This is a resource page produced by the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Division of Markets. This guide will help you properly analyze what to do and what to avoid when developing a food processing business.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1178305553692&p=1178305553692&pagename=CDAGWrapper

 

*From Growing to Processing

This is a guide for individuals starting food processing businesses. Information was obtained from numerous federal and state agencies, local governments, and private industry sources.

http://www.ag.state.co.us/mkt/fgtp/fgtp.html

 

Starting a New Food Business Website

This resource website of the University of Georgia Extension provides information about food safety issues and regulations when starting a new food business.

http://www.efsonline.uga.edu/EFS_NFB/

 

Marketing Processed Foods

 

Adding Value to Farm Products: An Overview

This publication discusses the concept of adding value to farm products, the differences between creating and capturing value, and the implications for value-added enterprises. It describes some different approaches to adding value, including starting a food processing business, with a brief look at nonfood products. Resources to learn more about value-added agriculture and planning a value-added enterprise are included.

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/valueovr.pdf

 

Adding Value through Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship: Overview and Resources

This publication provides a list of resources to assist farmers in developing and managing value-added agricultural enterprises and approaches.

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/value-addedResource.html

 

Considerations for a Value-Added Agribusiness

University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service.
Includes chapters on agricultural business planning, marketing, financial feasibility, product development, and value-added opportunities

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/pb1642.pdf

 

Feasibility Study for Energy-Efficient on Farm Poultry and Small Ruminant Processing Plants

The study will evaluate the potential energy savings from reducing transportation for processing at remote sites, constructing a state-of the- art, energy efficient facility, and using innovative methods such as composting.

http://www.cadefarms.org/pdf/Feasibility%20Study.pdf

 

Food Dehydration Options

This publication focuses on commercial-scale food drying methods and equipment. It also outlines solar food drying technology that tends to be of lower cost and smaller scale in its application.

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/dehydrate.html

 

Keys to Success in Value-Added Agriculture

This publication presents important lessons learned by farmers in adding value to their farm products and marketing directly to consumers. The keys to their success in value-added agriculture include high quality, good record-keeping, planning and evaluation, perseverance, focus, and building long-term relationships with customers.

http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/keystosuccess.html

 

The Legal Guide for Direct Farm Marketing

This guide, written by Neil D. Hamilton of Drake University, explains various legal aspects of direct marketing. Topics in the book include; types of direct marketing, land use issues, marketing, labor and employment issues and information on insurance and liability.

http://www.statefoodpolicy.org/legal_guide.htm

 

*Recognize and Investigate Value-Added Opportunities and Constraints

This paper by explains value-added products, provides examples, provides guidelines to help evaluate value-added opportunities, and discusses marketplace evaluation, business/community networking, processing efficiency, and more.

http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/va/valaddopp&const.html

 

Value-Added Business Ventures through Producer Alliances

This publication identifies the factors that producers should evaluate when considering investment in producer alliances. The success of a value-added business depends upon whether the alliance is organized and has a solid business sense.

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-318.pdf

 

Value-Added Enterprises for Small-Scale Farmers

This is a fact sheet produced by the Washington State University that identifies keys to success in value-adding.

http://www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/documents/ValueAdded.pdf

 

Incubator Kitchens

 

*The Business Incubator Center

The Business Incubator Center is located in Grand Junction, CO. To meet the needs of culinary entrepreneurs, a fully equipped licensed commercial kitchen is available. This is a shared use facility where food producers can legally prepare, process, cook and store perishables. It is a fully licensed facility for catering, food preparation, and specialty food production.

http://www.gjincubator.org/campus/kitchen.htm

 

*Colorado Department of Agriculture: List of Kitchen Spaces Available to Rent

This is a list of certified kitchens in the state of Colorado that are available to rent for the processing of value-added food products. The list of kitchen spaces for rent is at the bottom of the “co-pack” page.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1178305633281&p=1178305633281&pagename=CDAGWrapper#Kitchens

 

Case Studies and Success Stories


Analyzing and Developing Marketing Strategies for Tennessee’s Value-Added Agriculture: Using Case Studies to Enhance Success

As part of an 18-month cooperative Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, USDA, and The University of Tennessee Agricultural Development Center conducted case studies for four value-added agri-businesses in Tennessee and conducted specific market development studies for the industries these case studies represent. This publication documents those case study reports.

http://cpa.utk.edu/pdffiles/fsmipstudy.pdf

 

*Western Profiles of Innovative Agricultural Marketing: Examples from Direct Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism Enterprises

This publication is intended to help producers identify avenues for providing more value

to consumers at the farm or ranch level.

http://cals.arizona.edu/AREC/wemc/westernprofiles.html

 

Funding Resources

 

Please see:

  • Financing for general resources to help fund agricultural marketing ventures.