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October 21, 2003

Purdue Extension workshop helps food entrepreneurs

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service will hold a workshop in Madison, Ind., on Nov. 21 for entrepreneurs interested in starting a specialty food business in Indiana.

The event, which will take place at the Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center, was developed to serve as a comprehensive overview of the issues associated with starting a specialty food business, said Kirby Hayes, a Purdue Extension specialist and event coordinator.

"The workshop will touch on regulations associated with starting a food business in Indiana, food safety, marketing and entrepreneurship among other things," said De Bush a Purdue Extension food science assistant.

Maria Marshall, a Purdue Extension specialist who also is a program coordinator, said a basic understanding of marketing is fundamental to the success of all food entrepreneurs.

Bush, who helped organize the workshop, said experts from around the state will discuss business planning, product and process development, and packaging.

"Maria Marshall, a Purdue ag economist will talk about marketing, and Shirley Vargas, a supervisor from the Indiana State Department of Health, will speak about regulations," she said. "Linda Wood from the Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center will talk about business planning, and Lisa Mauer from Purdue's food science department will cover packaging considerations for specialty foods."

Hayes said there also will be question-and-answer periods as well as an opportunity to speak with the presenters.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indiana Small Business Development Center and Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture are co-sponsoring the event with Purdue Extension. Cost to attend is $75 and includes an information binder, refreshments and lunch.

Registration is required before Nov. 14. To register, contact Linda Wood at (812) 265-3127, Ext. 228, or lwood@isbdc.org.

Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu

Sources: Kirby Hayes, (765) 496-2864, hayesk@purdue.edu

De Bush, (765) 496-1805, djbush@purdue.edu

Related Web site:

Purdue Value Added Processing: https://www.foodsci.purdue.edu/outreach/vap/marketresearch.cfm

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page


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