How to start and operate a food-based business in Virginia.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6498321592768665480Sponsored by: Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program Workshop

Workshop Dates: March 30 and April 6
Location: Albemarle County Office Building Room A
The purpose of the Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program (VAFEP) is to support new and existing innovative value-added food processing and food production enterprises and to strengthen agriculture and food economic development opportunities in the Virginia Piedmont region through a series of educational workshops.

The program aims to increase the quality and quantity of regionally produced food and value-added food products as a means to incorporate sustainable agriculture into our local economy. The curriculum will include the following topics:

• How to comply with Virginia food processing and food safety regulations
• Which inspections and certifications are recommended or required for which products
• When food products need to be analyzed and evaluated
• How to market and sell locally-made products
• How to develop business plans and manage bookkeeping
• Panel discussions featuring successful food producers and retailers looking for locally made foods
• And more!

The VAFEP will also develop a free downloadable handbook, as well as resources and website links, covering the content of the workshops that will be available through this website.

For more information, contact Dawn Story at (434)-977-2033 or dstory@pecva.org.