From Concept to Consumer
Value-added agricultural products are raw commodities whose value has been increased through the addition of ingredients or processes that make them more attractive to the buyer and/or more readily usable by the consumer.
Simple examples would be producing a high fiber breakfast cereal from wheat, or adding a marinade to a cooked beef steak and selling it in a microwaveable package. The process would thus create new jobs and keep more dollars in a community. In addition, the profit margin of a value-added product is generally higher than that of a raw commodity.
It is more than just the perfect recipe. Planning for the future, hard work and a lot of patience also are involved. If entrepreneurs do not realize this when they start a business, it could become a cause for failure.
The Kansas Value Added Foods Lab can help you develop your product safely and under current regulations so you can start, or add to, your business. Let us help!
What's New?
Get the Scoop!
The September issue of The Scoop is now available. This has important information about FSMA deadlines!!!At the heart of vibrant communities are businesses that keep the local economy humming. To support businesses in communities large and small throughout the state, Kansas State University hosts free monthly webinars on topics pertaining to business.
If you would like to be on the notification list to participate in upcoming e-Calls, please send your request via e-mail to: nkdaniels@ksu.edu
Incubator Kitchen Resource Guide
In an effort to provide support to small food-business startups, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has developed an Incubator Kitchen Resource Guide to provide critical information about incubator resources throughout the state of Kansas.
Incubator kitchens are food facilities that can be rented for short periods of time to allow individuals starting a food business to access commercial kitchen equipment in a cost effective manner. In recent years, nine incubator kitchens have been established across the state. As KDA works to provide support and assistance to help promote success for Kansas businesses, the Incubator Kitchen Resource Guide helps make this information more accessible.
A new kitchen is now available in Arlington, KS! Contact KDA for more information.
Selling Food at Farmers Markets
Regulations and food safety best practices for vendors and farmers market managers.This includes information from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension.
The New FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Obama on January 4th, 2011. It aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to preventing it.
