As the interest in local foods continues to gain momentum in Ohio, many small or beginning farmers see value-added opportunities related to crops or livestock grown and raised on their own farms. Others may be using agricultural products that other farmers are producing to make and sell value-added foods through a new food business.
Resources on this page equip food entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a new food business with tools to manage risks associated with value-added agriculture. If you have questions about food processing and safety, business planning and legal regulations, marketing or product development, please contact Emily Marrison at 740-622-2265 or marrison.12@osu.edu .
In 2023, Emily Marrison and team were awarded a grant through North Central Extension Risk Management Education (USDA-NIFA Funds) to create an online course for food entrepreneurs. This course is designed to be a centralized location for for entrepreneurs who want to make and sell home-produced and farm-raised foor products.
- Thinking of direct food sales? (Ohio Ag Law Blog)
- Selling Eggs in Ohio: Marketing and Regulations
- Ohio Shared Use Establishments (Commercial Kitchens)
- Cottage Foods Fact Sheet (from Ohio Department of Agriculture)
- Farm Markets (from Ohio Department of Agriculture)
- Farmers Markets (from Ohio Department of Agriculture)
- Farm-Based Food Business NACAA (National Association of County Agriculture Agents) Poster
- Understanding Food Labels (regulations and label claims explained)
Dedicated Program Areas:
- Penn State Food Entrepreneur
- University of Wisconsin Extension Food Business Network
- The Wilbur A. Gould Food Industries Center at The Ohio State University
Publications:
- Cornell University Small Scale Food Entrepreneurship: A Technical Guide for Food Ventures
- University of Tennessee Extension Pricing Guide for Direct Marketers
- University of Maine How to Start a Specialty Food Business
- Kansas State University Extension Foods Sold Direct to Consumers in Kansas: Regulations and Food Safety Best Practices