Useful Links & Resources
Packaging and Labeling:
FDA Nutrition Labeling Overview
Industry Connections:
National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT)
National Confections Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)
Starting a Food Business:
“10 Key Ingredients to Launching A Successful Retail Product” Download PDF of presentation
Massachusetts Food Processors Resource Guide is Now Available!
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources promotes a collaboratively developed site promoting web-based resources for starting out. Online Support for New England Food Entrepreneurs
NH Specialty Food Producers Handbook and Resource Guide
US Small Business Administration Start-Up Information
Marketing and Branding:
Mapping Out a Growth Plan for Your Business and the Role of Exporting
State and Local Resources:
Mass Department of Agricultural Resources
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Crop Circle Kitchen – Boston’s Culinary Incubator
The Western Mass. Food Processing Center
Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship – Cornell University Food Science /NYSAES, West New North Street, Geneva, NY 14456
Food Industry Expo – Contacts and assistance regarding Ingredients, technical information on production, food scientists, suppliers: Northeast Institute of Food Technology. Excellent free trade show with opportunities to meet with food scientist suppliers and attend seminars: Usually held in May, Worcester’s DCU Center, Worcester.
Mass Association of Community Development Corporations
Massachusetts Dept of Agriculture – List of Co-packer businesses.
Food Safety:
Info on aspects of food safety, training and education from the MA Partnership for Food Safety
Co-Packing:
Choosing and Using a Co-Packer – Published by N.C. State Dept of Food Science
Specialty Food Association Co-Packer List
Managing Co-Packers – a chapter from the Natural Products Field Manual, produced by Bob Burke, Natural Products Consulting.
Massachusetts Dept of Agriculture – List of Co-packer businesses.
Board member, Sarah Kline of the Blackbird Pie Company, has offered to give advice and consulting about co-packing which is something she has a great deal of knowledge about.
Federal and State Regulations:
FDA Guidelines for legal health claims
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Label Regulations: Food Labeling Guidance and Regulatory Information.
Food and Nutrition Information Center
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA)
Application for initial licensure for food processing and/or distribution at wholesale
Massachusetts minimum requirements for packaged food labeling
Notice to applicants for a license to manufacture and/or distribute fod at wholesale from a residential kitchen
Mass Dept of Environmental Health – Residential Kitchens Questions and Answers
