Articles
Articles


Value Added - What, Why, How?
John Berry
Sometimes I feel as though value-added is promoted as a certain road to success. To maintain and grow an economically viable business we would expect profitability. Value-added is not a risk-free path to achieving profits. More


Food Entrepreneurs
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D.
Are you looking to start a new food business? Are you an existing business looking for information on how to maximize your profitability? More


While the growth in demand for locally sourced farm products seems to continue the complexity of a new market should be explored. More


2018 Food Flavor Trends
Molly Berntsen, Heather E. Manzo
Using these previews early in the market season can assist with seed selection and inspire seasonal flavors for all manner of value added goods, farm markets and farmers markets! More


Customer Acquisition: What You Need To Know
Molly Berntsen, Heather E. Manzo
When it comes to customer acquisition and customer retention rates, it is worth the time to learn a few basic principles! More


Find Your Niche: Cultivating Customers that Share Your Passion for Your Business
Molly Berntsen, Heather E. Manzo
Every business needs a market-driven strategy to identify, target and reach customers looking for the unique attributes found in its products and services. More


Farmstead and Artisan Cheesemaking
Sarah Cornelisse, Kerry E. Kaylegian, Ph.D., Lynn Kime, Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., Emily Montgomery
The renaissance of farm-based dairy processing can be attractive, but it is imperative that farmers research and plan all aspects of a new enterprise. More


Choosing a pricing objective and associated strategy is an important function of the business owner and an integral part of the business plan or planning process. More


Adding value to your meat production will require contacting and working with a slaughtering facility or building your own. More


Starting a Value-Added Enterprise
Lynn Kime
Starting a value-added business can be both rewarding and time consuming to complete the necessary steps to begin production. More


Value-Added Agriculture: Dairy Products
Sarah Cornelisse
As of 2014, there were 84 dairy plants producing one or more dairy products in Pennsylvania. More


Poultry and Game Birds
Lynn Kime
Pennsylvania has a vibrant poultry and game bird industry. More


If you have started or are planning to begin a value-added food business, you should consider your risk management plan and what will be included within that plan. More


Pricing meat for direct-to-consumer sales. More


Allowable Revisions to Approved COLA
Carla Snyder
Make quick reasonable changes to your labels without applying for a new Certificate of Label Approval or COLA. More


Food for Profit: Registering Your Business
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
This article will help you learn about how to register your food business in Pennsylvania. More


Food for Profit: Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services is responsible for enforcing food regulations and inspecting food establishments. More


Food for Profit: Before You Start
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
Starting any business is no easy task. You'll have to prepare yourself for the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in the food business. More


Food for Profit: Home Food Processing
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
Setting up a food-processing business in your home has advantages and disadvantages. This article describes considerations for how to set up your food-processing business. More


Food for Profit: Business Planning
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
Before starting your new food business, you need a clear vision of how you want your business to operate; how it will be managed, marketed, financed, and how you expect it to perform in the future. More


Food for Profit: Insurance for Food Entrepreneurs
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
Food business owners are held responsible for any harm that comes to employees, visitors who come to your establishment, and consumers who eat your products. More


Food For Profit: Price and Pricing
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
There is a difference between price and pricing. Each method has own advantages and disadvantages. More


Food For Profit: Marketing Your Food Product
Luke LaBorde, Ph.D., Winifred W. Mc Gee
Marketing is more than advertising; it is everything you do to promote your business and your food products, from the moment you conceive of a product to the point at which customers buy it. More


Surveys are one of the most common ways to gather information from customers, and are particularly useful in understanding your customers. More


Marketing to Ethnic Segments: Halal Products
Dana Ollendyke
Explore marketing to various sectors to maintain a successful business. More