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| navigate: home: magazine: fall 2002: article | |
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Web site aids food processors and entrepreneurs By Gary Abdullah | ||||||
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Got a great new snack food idea? Ready to market Grandma’s chicken salad recipe? People looking to turn family recipes into big-money businesses now have access to valuable information on the food processing business, thanks to a special Web-based service developed by the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Resources for Small Food Processors and Potential Entrepreneurs” is a Web site created by Dr. Luke LaBorde, assistant professor of food science, to introduce budding business tycoons to the fundamentals of food processing technology and regulations. The Web site at http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/processor/ent_res_text2.htm is designed to answer the most frequently asked questions surrounding commercial food processing. “Many people have an old family recipe for a barbecue sauce, salad dressing or salsa that they think tastes better than what’s on the market,” LaBorde said. “Our site offers a variety of resources available in Pennsylvania and other states to answer key questions: ‘Am I the type of person who would be happy running a business? What are the state and federal regulations I would have to follow, and how can I make sure I will produce a safe product?” The links in this Web site should help anyone seriously considering starting a food processing operation.” More than 90 online resources have been collected and categorized, and the site also has links to food testing laboratories, equipment and packaging resources, direct marketing opportunities and farm alternatives. “By no means will the site answer all your questions, especially when you look at the many different kinds of food products one can make,” LaBorde said. “After looking at the site, potential entrepreneurs should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and their local county health department for additional advice on regulations and food safety requirements.” An outreach program of the College of Agricultural Sciences
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© 2002 Outreach Communications, Outreach & Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University phone: (814) 865-8108, fax: (814) 863-2765, e-mail: outreachnews@outreach.psu.edu |
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