Food Entrepreneurship

Business Success, Step by Step - Designed to help entrepreneurs and inventors develop and market their projects and includes technical, market, and business development principles.

Center for Innovation - Provides assistance to innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to launch new ventures, commercialize new technologies, and secure access to capital from private and public sources.

Food Entrepreneurs- Penn State Extension - Are you looking to start a new food business? Are you an existing business looking for information on how to maximize your profitability? This website will lead you to business, regulatory, and food technological resources to consider when starting a new business or maintaining your existing business.

The Food Processing Center - Specializes in providing business, marketing and technical assistance to entrepreneurs in the value-added food processing industry.

National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc. - Information for inventors about invention promotion companies and how to market an invention.

NDSU Extension Leadership and Civic Engagement -  Connects resources in community, economic development and leadership to communities.

Pride of Dakota - Program created by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in 1985 to develop, improve and expand domestic and foreign markets for North Dakota products.

Small Business at the Bank of North Dakota - Financing programs for small businesses.

Small Business Development Center - (SBDC)   SBDC assistance is available to anyone interested in expanding or starting a business who cannot afford the services of a private consultant.

U.S. Small Business Administration - Helps entrepreneurs start, build and grow their business.

Guide for Buying and Selling Local Food - Determining how to purchase local food for retailers or businesses can be challenging. This document busts the myths of local food purchasing and selling with guidance from the the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

New Business Registration - Registering name, licensing information and tax requirements.

IBM Intellectual Property Network - Search the database for patent information.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture – Specifics on inspection and laws related to selling food, dairy, meat and eggs in the state of Minnesota.

North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights – Information on minimum wage and worker rights.

Small Business Guide to FDA - Instructions and assistance for getting information from the FDA site.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Information on regulations, inspections, compliance, enforcements and recalls.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Searchable databases, inventor resources, and general information

BAD BUG BOOK - This handbook provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins.

Center For Disease Control and Prevention - CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.

Foodborne Illness and Contaminants (FDA) – Information on preventing foodborne illness and reducing health risks associated with chemical contaminants, pesticides, natural toxins and metal.

HACCP Implementation - General Information; Guidance documents; HACCP Implementation Updates; Additional resources from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Recall Information Center - Recalls are voluntary actions carried out by industry in cooperation with Federal and State agencies. Products are recalled when found to be contaminated, adulterated, or misbranded.

FoodSafety.gov- "Gateway to Government Food Safety Information."

Culinex

Restaurant Equipment World - Largest restaurant equipment site on the internet featuring items online with product photos. Also featuring design, export, consulting, and worldwide installation.

TOR-REY - Manufacturer of food processing equipment.  Product line:  meat grinders, band saws, slicers, scales and display coolers for the food service industry.

Labeling

Labeling Requirements - Division of Food and Lodging of the North Dakota Department of Health, requires that all food products manufactured in North Dakota must be properly labeled prior to their sale and distribution.

How can I obtain a Universal Product Code (UPC) symbol? - eXtension

Do you need a Nutrition Label? We can do that for you! Our confidential fee-based service will provide a camera-ready nutrition facts label for your product.

Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D.,
Food and Nutrition Specialist
North Dakota State University Extension
Phone: (701) 231-7187
Email: julie.garden-robinson@ndsu.edu 

Testing

ENI Laboratories - Eurofins Scientific is an international group of food testing laboratories providing analytical and bioassay services to the food, dietary supplement, agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries.

Medallion Laboratories - Medallion is an analytical testing laboratory serving the food industry for 25 years.

Merieux NutriSciences - Merieux Nutrisciences offers a comprehensive array of testing, consulting and training services and products to help ensure the safety, quality and nutritional value of your food and feed products.

Northern Crops Institute - An international center for meeting and learning about northern grown crops of the United States. It offers specialized programs and technical consulting designed to fit the needs of the customer.

Sensory and Consumer Research Center- Provide services including product development testing, shelf life testing and consumer sensory evaluation using a trained panel.

North Dakota Farmers Market & Growers Association - Are you interested in advancing your direct marketing skills to enhance your farmers; market business, roadside stand or pick your own market? Are you interested in supporting North Dakota locally grown and produced products? If the answer is yes, this is the organization for you! The North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association is a marketing organization that is geared to help you improve your marketing skills and to assist in supporting locally grown and processed North Dakota products

How to Start a Food Truck- Eight tips to steer a mobile restaurant business in the right direction. There’s more to this business than buying the food, the vehicle, and parking it curbside. This article provides some tips on what you need to know to steer your own food truck onto the right path. Article by Amy Reinink, January 18, 2011.

Food Trucks 101. How to Start a Mobile Food Business - This article looks at the common mobile-food entities such as food kiosks, food trucks, the mobile-catering business, food-carts and concession trailers. Tips are provided for perfecting recipes, finding locations, branding products, and the need for licenses and permits. Article by Rich Mintzer, July, 24, 2011.

Beyond the Food Truck: Six Ideas for Mobile Food Businesses - Street food is a tried-and-true business model that's fed generations of eaters. Today, there are approximately 3 million food trucks operating in the U.S., more than 5 million food carts, and an unknown number of kiosks.  If you multiply the following six mobile options with the myriad cuisines and foods you can serve, possible locations, and the time of day you are open, your options for a mobile food business are endless. Article by Rich Mintzer, September, 25, 2011.

6 Ways Food Trucks Can Survive the Winter Freeze and Grow Their Business - Food-truck businesses are finding ways to turn winter months into periods of growth. Article by Kate Taylor, December 4, 2013.