Sandra Renner, Center for Rural Affairs, sandrar@cfra.org, 402.320.3444; Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1025
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Food Business Growth project is coming to Miss Molly's in Wayne, Nebraska, to showcase opportunities for food businesses.
The Grow Your Food Business Using Certified Kitchen Spaces training is the second in a series of 5 trainings offered through the Rural Food Business Growth project. The FREE training will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Miss Molly’s coffee shop is located at 203 Main St., Wayne, NE.
Attendees will tour 2 on-site commercial kitchens at Miss Molly’s (which are available to rent for food projects), followed by a panel discussion from local experts. Participants will learn about others who have used shared community kitchen space to successfully launch their food business in rural Nebraska and about a college student who is starting a gluten-free baking business using Miss Molly's certified gluten/allergen free kitchen.
State inspections and licensing requirements will be discussed, along with how to connect with resources for food safety, regulatory compliance for those with available kitchen space and those wishing to rent kitchen space such as small food businesses. Business and technical support resources will be available through the Center for Rural Affairs.
According to Sandra Renner, Project Specialist at the Center for Rural Affairs, “Many schools and institutions are seeking sources for local, fresh foods. Farmers and small food businesses can address ease-of-use and seasonal mismatch barriers through minimal processing to make farm products easier to use, bring value-added products to market, and provide more availability throughout the year. For small farm, garden, and food businesses, processing can create a high-value product that increases profit margins. In our work to build vibrant rural communities, we see existing commercial kitchens (abundant in schools, churches, meeting spaces, senior centers, and more) as opportunities to cultivate food processing and help preparation businesses by opening these kitchens for shared use.”
Those interested in developing a food product for market or using certified community kitchen space for these uses in rural Nebraska are invited to attend.
What: FREE Grow Your Food Business Using Certified Kitchen Spaces Training , part of the Rural Food Business Growth Project
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2016
7:00 p.m.
Where: Miss Molly’s
203 Main St.
Wayne, NE
There is no charge for the workshop. Refreshments will be available.
This workshop is part of the Center for Rural Affairs Rural Food and Food Processing Business Growth project. This project will conduct a series of targeted training sessions in Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne counties that will assist small and emerging food and related businesses in accessing and using value-added food minimal processing facilities and also provide support for food processing stakeholders in the form of strategic connections and online resources. This project is funded by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant.
