Starting a business in the food industry can be challenging. State licenses, permits, inspections, sanitation procedures and product testing are a few of the hurdles an entrepreneur will face. For many, the foremost question is “Where do I begin?”

This workshop is for food entrepreneurs who wish to learn more about producing safe food products for sale in the marketplace.

Whether you have a great idea about a product you want to sell, have just begun marketing your product or are already established in the marketplace this workshop is for you! This workshop will cover a wide variety of topics related to the preparation and processing of value added food products.

Topics that will be covered in the workshop include:

State and Federal regulations of food products

What is an approved facility

Food safety planning

Product testing

Nutrition labeling

Food processing 101

Food packaging

Presenters: Jacob Schoenknecht, Small Batch Director, Detroit Food Academy; Natasha Horne, Senior Food Industry Field Scientist, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Marianne Marianne Courey, Food Safety Inspector, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.