May 14, 2020
Extension Service offers free webinar on creating small food businesses
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Free webinar covers basics of creating small food business
- Share Grounds offers educational, mentorship opportunity for produce farmers and entrepreneurs
- Fifteen entrepreneurs to be selected for mentoring program
(226 words)
LITTLE ROCK — A successful food business starts with a great idea, but turning an idea into a profitable product requires much more. The Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has numerous resources for entrepreneurs — from access to certified kitchens for manufacturing to help with business planning and recipe scaling.
The Cooperative Extension Service will host a free webinar May 21 on creating small food businesses at its Share Grounds certified kitchens. The hour-long webinar will begin at 3 p.m. CDT. Participation is free, but registration is required.
The webinar is offered through extension’s Local, Regional & Safe Foods Team, led by Dr. Amanda Philyaw Perez.
Participants will get an overview of the steps to create food products for commercial markets and will learn about local shared-use kitchens, also known as manufacturing facilities. The Share Grounds kitchens at the fairgrounds in Cleveland, Searcy, and Woodruff counties are available and permitted for small- and medium-scale food product processing using a fee-based system.
Webinar participants can also apply for one-on-one mentoring with University of Arkansas Food Science student interns, as well as additional assistance to start their food processing business. Fifteen clients will be selected to participate in a Share Grounds mentored entrepreneurial program.
If you are interested in this opportunity but unable to attend the webinar, contact agardner@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu