Food Business
The Kansas Value Added Foods Lab is dedicated to helping small food businesses produce safe food products to sell directly to consumers. Our goal is to help increase the value of agricultural products to make them more attractive and usable, from concept to customer. Some of these small businesses start out of home kitchens or vendor booths at farmers markets and grow into larger businesses.
Before any food product is made, many business decisions must be considered. Researching the business structure, making a business plan and selecting a location, among other important factors, make up the foundation of a successful business.
We partner with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the From the Land of Kansas program to guide small Kansas food businesses through government regulations and licensing compliance procedures.
Our team of experts can also develop Nutrition Facts Labels for your food products. We test and analyze food products that are regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
Our Meat Science program provides assistance to small meat processors. We help develop value-added meat products, evaluate and analyze products, and help meat processing businesses to start operations. This program is guided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.
Resources
Below are helpful resources relating to food business - from concept to product testing. If you have specific questions, please reach out to one of our specialists or contact your local extension office.
Programs and Events
We offer a variety of learning opportunities and programs throughout the year. For more information on upcoming classes and events in your area, please contact your local extension office.