Chapter 10: Resources

Web based resources for your food business.

A Note about Resources and Contacts

Public and private sector resources are listed below. A listing is not an endorsement, nor are the listings comprehensive. Word-of-mouth recommendations and an internet search will offer many more contacts. The partial listings in this Resources chapter are for your information. No discrimination is intended, and reliability is not guaranteed.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Websites 

• Small Food Business: Resources for Food Entrepreneurs

 Food Trends

• Eater.com
• Food & Tech Connect 
• Food and Wine magazine
• Food Dive: Food Industry News and Analysis 
• Food Network: Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos
• Independent Natural Food Retailers association History
• Project NOSH/ BevNet
• The Specialty Food Association has a trends section on its website
• Set up a daily Google news alert to keep up-to-date on relevant trends and product articles. Follow chefs, retailers and affinity groups on social media

Chapter 2: Performing Market/Consumer Research

• Atlantic Corporation: Home
• Creating a focus group with free online survey tools:  Google Forms or SurveyMonkey. 
• Food Consultants  About
• Value proposition How to Create a Compelling Value Proposition That Converts

Chapter 3: Scaling up, Where to Make Your Product, and Licensing

Scaling Up Videos

• UMass Amherst explains how to scale your recipe, measure ingredients, document the the costs of production and other topics: UMASS Amherst product development food video playlist  

Making Your Product Resources

• Residential Kitchens: Check with your local board of health to see if residential kitchens are allowed. List of local boards of health contacts throughout Massachusetts, or Google your town name and “board of health” to find your contact.
• Residential Kitchen Question and Answers page or downloadable PDF from the Food Protection Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• MA retail code standards for permitted residential kitchens 
• FDA diagram explains which products require time/temperature control
• Good Manufacturing Practices for Food (105 CMR 500.000) from the Massachusetts Department of Health

Kitchen Equipment Suppliers

• E.F. Smith and Son Restaurant Equipment, Quincy   
• Restaurant Equipment|New & Used Restaurant Supply|Food Service Supply, Millbury 
• Gillette Equipment, Northampton & North Brookfield
• Highland Restaurant Supply, Fall River
• Westerman Store & Restaurant Equipment, Worcester 
• Westerman Store Used Equipment Warehouse, Worcester 

Shared Use Kitchens in Massachusetts 

• Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources  Shared Use Kitchen Space list
• CommonWealth Kitchen, Boston 
• The Western Mass Food Processing Center, Greenfield
• Worcester Local Food Hub, Worcester 

Co-Packer Businesses

• Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Co-Packer Businesses list
• Specialty Food Association list of  Copackers - Food Business Resource

Licensing

• Legal Food Hub’s overview of regulatory requirements, regardless of the type of facility  
• Retail FAQs   
• Retail permit guidance 
• Wholesale permit wholesale permit and license 
• FDA Facility Registration 

Chapter 4: Calculating Costs and Setting a Price

• Penn State Extension: Establishing Product Prices for Farm Markets 
• SBA Guide Introduction to Pricing 

Chapter 5: Food Safety Basics, Plan Development, and Testing

• The Cornell Food Venture Center, Small Scale Processing/
• UMass Resources: Food Safety: Food Safety for Commercial Food Processors | UMass Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment 

Food Safety Plan Development and Training

• Umass Amherst grower and small business video - Food Safety Testimonial
• UMass Amherst’s Planning Product and Production
• UMASS Product Development Class and upcoming events
• Serve Safe Training
• CommonWealth Kitchen custom food safety training, supported by USDA NIFA 
• UMASS Food Science Trainings  
• Penn State’s Coverage and Exemption Tool
• FSMA
• FDA FSMA
• UMass Amherst’s FSMA and You
• UMass Amherst’s FSMA Compliance 
• General Food Safety
• FDA Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
• FDA Definitions 
• Bad Bug Book: Handbook of Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and natural toxins 
• CFIA Reference Database for Hazard Identification
• Validation and Verification
• FDA Small Entity Compliance Guide 
• FDA diagram explains which products require time/temperature control
• CGMPs
  • Cornell’s GMP Training
  • Penn State Articles, Workshops, and Courses
  • CGMPs
    • Cornell’s GMP Training
    • Penn State Articles, Workshops, and Courses
    • UMass Amherst’s Food Safety Videos 

Preventive Controls

• FDA Guidance for industry- Hazard Analysis and risk-based  Preventive Controls for human food
• FDA Guidance for Industry: Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Read-To-Eat Foods
• Iowa State University Food Safety Preventive Control Plan Checklist Iist

HACCP

• FDA HACCP Guidelines
• UMass Amherst general overview of HACCP

Record Keeping

• FDA Guidance for Industry

Other

• UMass Amherst’s Production
• UMass Extension: FSMA Preventive Control Rule and Farm Operations- Emerging Opportunities in Value-Added Agriculture including dried and frozen products
• How to Measure water activity in foods
• How to measure pH of foods
• FDA recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts
• FDA Final Guidance on Mandatory Recall Authority
• Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse
• UF IFAS Extension Food Recall Manual
• URI Food Processing Guidance

Testing and consultants 

• Berger Food Safety Consulting
• Food Research Labs, Boston, 617-442-3322
• Microbac Laboratories, Lee and Westborough
• Morrell Associates, Marshfield
• Trelfa Labs, Inc., Salisbury
• University of Maine Food Testing Services  

Chapter 6. Product Labeling, Label Regulations, and Label Design & Packaging

Federal Labeling Laws

• Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Labeling Guide. You may also find the FDA’s Food Labeling & Nutrition website helpful.
• Labels Unwrapped explains all aspects of food labeling, Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School
• Small food companies may qualify for the Small Business Nutrition Labeling Exemption, find the online and paper form here 
• Allergens labeling guidelines  
• Authorized Health claims 
• Gluten free labeling guidelines 
• Organic labeling guidelines  

State Labeling Laws

• Massachusetts has minimum labeling requirements, including open dating, health claims, and food allergens
• The Massachusetts’s Minimum Requirements for Packaged-food Labeling are here  PDF or the full regulation, 105 CMR 500.00. Section 500.006 is dedicated to food labeling. 

Resources for Working with Label and Package Designers 

• Search the web for label and packaging designers, check with Associations and other food businesses for referrals.  
• What Makes A Good Graphic Designer and How To Choose One from Graphic Design USA (Magazine and Website) 
• Example of a Standard Graphic Design Agreement, American Institute of Graphic Arts 
• New England Label
• Wright Design, Fall River

Label codes 

• Food packaging QR codes - an example of a company that generates the codes
• QR code information from Penn State Extension is  here 
• Universal Product Code (UPC code) background and information

Chapter 7: Developing a Business Plan

State and Federal Resources

• Boston Public Library:  Business Planning Resources 
• Check with your local library for free access to on-line planning tools such as the Gale Business Plan Builder https://www.gale.com/c/business-plan-builder)
• Small Business Administration (SBA) District Offices offer counseling, training, and business development to help you start and grow your business, including Write Your Business Plan 
• The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Business Training Programs focus on farmers or those considering becoming one in Massachusetts. Exploring the Small Farm Dream is for those thinking about or planning to start a farm. Growing Your Farm Business can help established state farmers with business plan development, resource assessment, marketing, and financial and risk management.
• The Massachusetts Small Business Development Network MSBDC Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance, and strategic, marketing, and operational analysis. The MSBDC Network provides business tools, including the elements of a business plan. You can also download the MSBDC Network’s Business Plan Outline and sample business plans.  The MSBDC has regional offices throughout Massachusetts. 
• With regional state offices, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) provides help to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Office staff can provide information about programs and opportunities available throughout the state. They can determine the state and/or local resources that can be the most useful for you. The MOBD can direct you to support for developing your business plan, finding financing, and getting management and technical training
• Massachusetts Community Development Corporation offices provide training, technical assistance and access to capital to small businesses and micro enterprises

Non-profit Business Development Resources

• Center for Women and Enterprise provides support for women entrepreneurs and women in business to increase professional success and financial Independence
• CommonWealth Kitchen, Boston, provides one-on-one support for starting and growing food businesses   
• Conservation Law Foundation’s Legal Food Hub,connects eligible farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food-related organizations to volunteer attorneys. Step-by-Step Guide to Forming an LLC  discusses a limited liability company and provides step-by-step instructions for forming an LLC 
• Entrepreneurship For All, free one-year Accelerator Program with business training and mentorship.  
• Enterprise Center at Salem State University advises north shore businesses on business plan assistance, startup, marketing and sales, financial management, tax strategies, legal issues, social media, and government contracting
• Massachusetts Specialty Foods Association provides resources for specialty food producers such as networking, marketing, and sales.
• New Entry Sustainable Farming Project offers farm business planning. 
• PV Grows Investment Fund offers farmers and food entrepreneurs flexible financing and technical assistance for a healthier food system
• Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream supports local food and beverage entrepreneurs with access to capital, networks, and business coaching, in partnership with Accion, a global nonprofit with a focus on microfinance and impact investing
• SCORE has a network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Browse the website for the support you need and a location that’s convenient.  Resources include a business planning and a financial statements template gallery 
• The Carrot Project supports farm and food businesses in New England and the Hudson Valley to build financial management skills for businesses to thrive
• The Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center has detailed business planning resources

Business Planning, Insurance, and Consultants

• Branch Foods supports food startups to accelerate business growth
• Farm Credit East Harvesting a Profit  provides business planning and other services
• Food Liability Insurance Program (FLIP) provides liability insurance for food businesses
• Hirshberg Entrepreneurial Institute 
• Julia Shanks Food Consulting  
• Lisa Sutton, Kitchen Local
• Lean Stack, used by CommonWealth Kitchen, Boston, is an efficient way to describe your business and products in a 1-page business plan template  
• Natural Products Consulting 
• The Carrot Project,  a non-profit providing training, coaching and financing for farmers and food producers in Southern New England  
• Nutter has a legal team focused on food and beverage.
• Liability insurance protects against lawsuits, accidents and oversights to protect your business.  There are many providers. The SBA has additional information about business insurance. 
• Workman’s Comp Insurance, Massachusetts 

Chapter 8: Marketing, Promotions, and Social Media

“Buy Local” Organizations in Massachusetts 

Regional “Buy Local” groups build awareness and demand for local food products.  Some offer support for growers looking to add value to their products including financial support for experts in research and planning, product development, branding and design, and business and marketing success:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/buy-local-groups

• Berkshire Grown
• Buy Fresh Buy Local - Cape Cod
• Central MassGrown
• Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
• Island Grown - Martha’s Vineyard
• Northeast Harvest
• Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
• Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN)
• Sustainable CAPE
• Sustainable Nantucket

Marketing 

• Good Egg Marketing, Boston

Press Releases and Media Pitches

• Member Press Releases from the Specialty Food Association
• Tips for Crafting a Media Pitch from PRSA Boston

Social Media

• 10 Tips for Farm Social Media 
• Guide to Developing a Social Media Strategy for Ag Entrepreneurs

Chapter 9: Sales, Distribution, Brokers and Trade Shows

Sales: Selling at farmers markets

• MA Department of Agricultural Resources Guide to Selling at Farmers Markets
• MA Department of Public Health Food Establishments at Events and Farmers Markets Questions and Answers
• City of Boston’s  What You Can Sell at a Farmers Market

Sales: Online platforms connecting suppliers directly with customers 

Mouth.com, an online merchant has an email address for suggesting new products

Goldbelly has an informational page for sellers 

Ecommerce platforms including Storenvy, Shopify and Etsy

Sales: Online platforms connecting suppliers and wholesale customers 

• Faire
• Hubba
• Massachusetts Farm to School can help you connect with schools interested in buying local products including a producer directory
• MassGrown Exchange assists farmers, fishers, food buyers, and ag-related businesses to connect, exchange, and find products and services
• RangeMe  

Distributors

• Chex Finer Foods 
• Costa Produce 
• Katsiroubas Brothers 
• Marty’s Local 
• Sid Wainer and Son Specialty Produce 
• UNFI 

Sales:  Food Brokers

• Full Service Food Broker | Sloan Sales Inc. | United States, Wakefield
• Home | metrofoods, Raynham
• New Boston Marketing Group, Rockland
• TryAngle Foods: Retail and Club Channel Specialty Food Brokers, Norwell
• Woolf Associates, Northboro

Trade Shows: a partial list

• *American Frozen Food Association Trade Show, AFFI-CON 2020 - AFFI
• *Americas Food and Beverage Trade Show, Americas Food and Beverage – The meeting place for decision makers and buyers from all sectors of the industry for the Americas
• Boston Wine Festival - America's Longest-Running Wine & Food Festival
• Boston Gift Show
• Harvest New England Conference and Trade Show
• *International Dairy, Deli, Bakery Association Show, Exhibit | Participate
• National Candy, Gift, & Gourmet Show, Philadelphia
• *National Restaurant Association Show
• *Natural Products Expo - East and West.
• *New England Restaurant & Bar Show - Region’s largest restaurant and foodservice event serving both the foodservice and retail sectors.
• New England Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show
• New England Made Shows, HOME | nemadeshows
• New England Annual Produce, Flower and Foodservice Expo 
• Northeast Institute of Food Technology Food Industry Expo 
• *Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North, Boston
• *Specialty Food Association Summer and Winter, Fancy Food Shows & Events
• Sustainable Business Network Local Food Trade Show, SBN Sustainable Business Network 
• *US Private Label Trade Show, General Information
• *Food Export USA Northeast, Homepage

*The USDA funded “Branded Program” offsets 50% of eligible expenses at US trade shows where international buyers are in attendance for businesses with products with at least 50% US grown ingredients by weight, excluding packaging and water. Typically a buyer mission complements *trade shows with one-on-one meetings with international buyers. Other programs focus on export promotion, assistance, international trade events and a cost share funding program., facilitated by Food Export USA Northeast in partnership with MDAR.  

State and Federal Grant Programs

• Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Additional Resources for Agricultural Grants and Funding Programs
• USDA, Grants & Opportunities | Agricultural Marketing Service